In 2009, Afton Mower founded PreemieBabies101.com to provide a social hub where preemie parents could band together and help each other through the ups and downs of the NICU and raising preemie babies. She is the mother of two preemies and one full-term child. Afton lost her firstborn son (born at 21 weeks). A year and a half after his death, she gave birth to her daughter (27 weeks). After a 94-day NICU stay, she realized how isolated and alone she felt. It was that experience that led her to found this website.
In 2012, she generously gifted PreemieBabies101.com to Hand to Hold. We carry her torch of prematurity awareness with great pride. Hand to Hold’s founder, Kelli Kelley, is the mother of two preemies (24 and 34 weekers). She too, felt the isolation and made a commitment to find a way to help others in the same situation. Thus, Hand to Hold was born. You’ll be hearing more from Kelli in the coming months about her experience, her advice and her life lessons as a veteran NICU mom. The lead blogger for the site, Kathryn Whitaker, is also the mother of two preemies, both born at 36 weeks. One evaded any complications, while her youngest suffered many, including a 44-day NICU stay. She will also share her experience and how she balances her busy family of seven in the process.
Hand to Hold is excited about this interactive forum and we invite you to follow along as we journey the prematurity path together, one day at a time.
