Conor's Story - by his Mommy, Marci!
On March 10, 2010, our son, Conor John Donovan, was born.
He was 14 weeks premature and weighed 2.2 lbs and
measured 13.5 inches long. He was the tiniest baby we had
ever seen. I remember the first time in the NICU being so
overwhelmed with emotions of happiness and sadness all
rolled into one. They call it a “roller coaster ride” for a reason. We waited at his
incubator, hoping someone would tell us that everything was going to be okay. Well, that’s
not quite how it went. One week after he was born he suffered a perforation in his
intestine. The following week he had a PDA ligation. He was on a special ventilator and
we just sat, watched and waited because we couldn’t hold him yet. Then one day, Maura, a
NICU nurse, came into Nursery 4 and gave me the book, “I Love You: A Keepsake
Storybook Collection” provided by Project: Cameron’s Story. She said the book w as
special for Conor and spoke of the Quartiers’ and told me a brief story of Cameron. I
cried. The thought of knowing that someone knew of our
struggle and reached out, someone who had been in our shoes
- that was a good day. A day of reading to Conor all day long,
and telling him how much we loved him. Conor spent 91 days
in the NICU and to date is doing wonderful. I read to him
everyday and he loves books. He is truly our miracle baby.
Oliver's Story - by his Mommy, Sarah!
Oliver Kamil Kuriplach was born November 4th 2009. He was born at 24 weeks and 4
days and was 780 grams (1lb 11.5 ounces) and 12.8 inches long. He spent 3 months in the
NICU at Albany Medical Center. From the moment he was born, he was a fighter. He
was able to overcome pneumonia and NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis) in the first 2
months of his life. It was so hard to see him everyday fighting for his life, but my
husband and I stayed positive and optimistic about his outcome. We were at the hospital
everyday to visit and as he grew and got stronger we were able to do kangaroo care
with him. Oliver came home after 3 months in the NICU on February 5th 2010.
While in the NICU Oliver received a book called "Harry and the Lady next door" from
Project: Cameron’s Story. It meant so much to us to know that someone else knew what
we were going through and was so generous to give out books to all the parents in the
NICU. The day after we received the book I started reading it to Oliver as I sat next
to him. It made me feel like I was able to help with his progress.
Oliver Kamil Kuriplach was born November 4th 2009. He was born at 24 weeks and 4
days and was 780 grams (1lb 11.5 ounces) and 12.8 inches long. He spent 3 months in the
NICU at Albany Medical Center. From the moment he was born, he was a fighter. He
was able to overcome pneumonia and NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis) in the first 2
months of his life. It was so hard to see him everyday fighting for his life, but my
husband and I stayed positive and optimistic about his outcome. We were at the hospital
everyday to visit and as he grew and got stronger we were able to do kangaroo care
with him. Oliver came home after 3 months in the NICU on February 5th 2010.
While in the NICU Oliver received a book called "Harry and the Lady next door" from
Project: Cameron’s Story. It meant so much to us to know that someone else knew what
we were going through and was so generous to give out books to all the parents in the
NICU. The day after we received the book I started reading it to Oliver as I sat next
to him. It made me feel like I was able to help with his progress.
Johnny's Story - by his Mommy, Ashley!
On January 25th, 2010, our little "miracle" John Galick Bigelow
was born at 24 weeks gestation defying all odds of survival. He
was 16 weeks premature, weighing in at 635 grams; equivalent to
1lb.6oz. He was just over 12 inches long. The Dr's described the
first 24 hrs. as the "honeymoon" period and explained to not mark
his progress day by day, but rather hour by hour. It truly was a roller coaster ride
filled with ups and downs!
John was born at Albany Medical Center where he received the best care imaginable.
He was born with BPD (Broncho-Pulmonary Dysplasia) and was on a series of ventilators
as well as SiPap, high flow, and eventually low flow oxygen. He also suffered from an
intraventricular hemorrhage which corrected itself.
Project Cameron's Story helped me tremendously while John was in the NICU. For the
first couple of weeks, I was intimidated by the NICU. I would walk to John's isolette
and just sit and stare at him, only asking for an occasional update for fear of hearing of
a setback. After being introduced to Project Cameron's Story, I finally felt like was
not alone in the preemie struggle for survival. I slowly, began to feel like I was
becoming part of the NICU "family" and was no longer afraid to read aloud to John. We
received "You're My I Love You" from Cameron. This became and still is John's
favorite book. As I began to read to him, he became more and more familiar with my
voice. Eventually, he was able to distinguish my voice from the nurses. This was a proud
moment!
On April 29th, after 95 days in the NICU, John FINALLY
got to come home! Today, he is thriving, weighing in at 20 lbs.
He passed his vision and developmental screening test with
flying colors and has no residual effects from the oxygen.
Miracles do come true!
On January 25th, 2010, our little "miracle" John Galick Bigelow
was born at 24 weeks gestation defying all odds of survival. He
was 16 weeks premature, weighing in at 635 grams; equivalent to
1lb.6oz. He was just over 12 inches long. The Dr's described the
first 24 hrs. as the "honeymoon" period and explained to not mark
his progress day by day, but rather hour by hour. It truly was a roller coaster ride
filled with ups and downs!
John was born at Albany Medical Center where he received the best care imaginable.
He was born with BPD (Broncho-Pulmonary Dysplasia) and was on a series of ventilators
as well as SiPap, high flow, and eventually low flow oxygen. He also suffered from an
intraventricular hemorrhage which corrected itself.
Project Cameron's Story helped me tremendously while John was in the NICU. For the
first couple of weeks, I was intimidated by the NICU. I would walk to John's isolette
and just sit and stare at him, only asking for an occasional update for fear of hearing of
a setback. After being introduced to Project Cameron's Story, I finally felt like was
not alone in the preemie struggle for survival. I slowly, began to feel like I was
becoming part of the NICU "family" and was no longer afraid to read aloud to John. We
received "You're My I Love You" from Cameron. This became and still is John's
favorite book. As I began to read to him, he became more and more familiar with my
voice. Eventually, he was able to distinguish my voice from the nurses. This was a proud
moment!
On April 29th, after 95 days in the NICU, John FINALLY
got to come home! Today, he is thriving, weighing in at 20 lbs.
He passed his vision and developmental screening test with
flying colors and has no residual effects from the oxygen.
Miracles do come true!
| Miracle Baby Stories Families touched by Project: Cameron's Story |
| Has your family been touched by Project: Cameron's Story? Would you like to share your story. Send your story (picture - optional) to projectcameronsstory@hotmail.com. |