Hand to Hold's official blog
As our son Jayden closes in on three, I have learned so much as the parent of a former preemie. We have seen all sorts of ups and downs, laughter and tears, milestones and obstacles, and I wouldn't trade any of it to do it over. When I reflect on … [Continue reading]
With my history of premature labor, scarred tissue, a classical c-section... the list could go on... we almost knew that our last child, Evie, would be another early arrival. And she was. She was born two days before New Year's Eve last year. She … [Continue reading]
We work so hard to keep our children healthy this time of year. I say work because it can feel like a job sometimes. We manage family and friends who want to visit, making sure they aren't sick and haven't been around anyone sick. Some of us go into … [Continue reading]
When you have a traumatic event in your life, you will feel a variety of feelings. It is no different when you have a baby in the NICU. For my wife and I, we felt the entire gamut of feelings. There was fear, anger, sadness, uncertainty, with a … [Continue reading]
If you are a NICU parent or have a NICU baby in your life, this giveway is for you. Fellow preemie mother Cassandra Melhuish has authored a beautiful, inspirational gift book to offer encouragement, love and hope to NICU families. She knows from … [Continue reading]
If you're like me, the mention of the tiny, three letter word, flu, can cause your palms to sweat, your stomach to sink and in the worst of moments, your knees to buckle. The latter happened to me a few years back when the entire country was in … [Continue reading]
My son was two and a half when his little sister was born at 34 weeks gestation and required a NICU stay due to a blood disorder. She was only in the hospital for a short time, but the challenges of caring for my toddler while balancing the needs … [Continue reading]
A Pound of Hope is the story of 24-weeker twins, Aidan and Ethan, as told by Michele Munro Kemper (Nana) and Jennifer Kemper Sinconis (Mama). Michele and Jennifer tell the story as it was noted and journaled during the twins' NICU stay and after. … [Continue reading]
Through my website www.babieswithnec.com, I network with parents every week. With every story submission I walk down the memories of Caitlyn passing and feel the pain of the parent writing the story. I follow up with them when I publish the story … [Continue reading]
I didn't know it was possible for someone so small to throw up so much. Indeed, it is possible. The first year of my son's life was rocky, to put it mildly. He contracted necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) on day eight of life and we began a pretty … [Continue reading]
Hand to Hold is a nonprofit 501(c)3 parent support organization and information and resources provided here do not intend to take the place of the relationship between a patient and personal physician.