Despite modern medical advances in neonatal care, the premature birth rate has increased steadily over the years. Statistics indicate in 2007 one in eight babies was born prematurely in the United States, according the National Center for Health Statistics The number has been rising steadily since the 80s with approximately half a million babies born before the 37 full weeks. Seven Tiny Miracles is filled with true stories of the harrowing world of the neonatal intensive care unit, where no parent expects his or her baby to start out, and where miracles struggle to outpace heartache. In her book, Yvonne shares heart-breaking and heart-warming stories and gives the reader an inside look at the lives of medical professionals who work around the clock to ensure that the littlest of us get the greatest start possible. Each story begins with a traumatic event and tells of the nerve-wracking and over-whelming ordeal faced by parents and their families. The reader learns about the lives of nurses and doctors, their hopes, their dreams, and their shortcomings. Sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes it's tragic, and often it's maddening, as life in NICU is always, literally, on the edge. The stories will make you laugh and cry while amazing you at what goes on in the NICU, showing you how even the most fragile of new lives can result in tremendous joy. Seven Tiny Miracles By Yvonne Isaacs AuthorHouse Copyright © 2009 Yvonne Isaacs All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4490-1085-0 Contents Acknowledgements.....................vAuthor's Note........................viiIntroduction.........................viii1: Mina R............................12: Ahmed M...........................93: Ryan J............................184: Tina R............................345: Mia S.............................476: Esther S..........................607: Shane P...........................71 Chapter One Mina R - 3 LB 1 OZ It was a cool, crisp morning in April. Evidence of new life everywhere glistened in the bright morning sunlight on the Yorkshire moors in England. It was the day that changed my life from a career as a nurse-midwife and sealed my destiny as a neonatal nurse. As a new graduate nurse-midwife, I worked beside Lizzie, a ten-year midwifery veteran nurse. It was my final week of mentorship before I could deliver babies independently. Lizzie had telephoned to say that she was running late and would meet me at a client's home in another hour. On the way to my car, the telephone rang again. I thought it was Lizzie. To my surprise, I picked up the phone and a woman with a foreign accent said.... "Hallo, is this the nurse-midwife on call?" "Yes, this is she. May I help you?" "Ah ... my name is Pinnie, and my sister Molly is having a baby. She's not due yet; she has another 12 weeks to go and her water has broken. I don't know what to do! Could you come quickly, please!" I learned from Pinnie that it was Molly's first pregnancy that she was new to England and did not speak much English. I scribbled several quick notes as fast as I could, Molly's address and her doctor's name and telephone number. Then I gave Pinnie some instructions before calling an ambulance. "Pinnie, did Molly have any blood loss or contractions?" When Pinnie answered no to both questions, I requested that Molly be placed on bedrest until I arrived. "Now," I continued, "I suggest you call the ambulance and Molly's doctor, and I will be there as soon as possible." "Please, hurry," she shouted. The phone went dead. I replaced the telephone on its cradle and stood there as if frozen in time. Within the next few seconds, I telephoned Lizzie and told her the news. She agreed to come as soon as she could. "Oh, please let her get here soon!" I thought. My heart raced. I drove toward Molly's house breaking all the speed limits. The morning commute had not yet started and what would normally take 15 minutes by car, I was able to do in seven minutes. There was no time to waste! Still in a daze, I could not remember delivering a premature baby since my recent graduation. The youngest infant I had delivered was 36 weeks gestation, and that birth occurred in the labor and delivery unit in a hospital. In England, nurse-midwives deliver about 70 to 80 percent of all newborn infants. They work in clinics, hospitals and homes performing all prenatal assessments, as well as healthy maternal/child and obstetrics care. I was proud of the rich experience of a profession in which I could diagnose, treat, counsel and teach pregnant women to get their needs met and plan for their future role as mothers. Pinnie opened the door quickly when I arrived at Molly's house. As Pinnie led me toward Molly's room, I saw their parents sitting in the living room. They greeted me as we hurried past, but they knew very little English. Pinnie was my only translater, but I was relieved to have been there. As if she read my thoughts, she blurted out,