My husband and I decided that after being married for two years and buying a house it was time to raise a family. In October of 2002, we found out that I was pregnant. Except for being sick all the time, everything was going well. On March 14, 2002 everything changed.

The day was going well, and I was feeling pretty good. I headed off to my OB/GYN appointment at 1:30pm - the one appointment that my husband was going to miss. As I was sitting in the waiting room, he called and said he was on his way. We were not long in the examination room before our world was turned upside-down. The doctor said my blood pressure was too high, I had too much protein in my urine, and I had gained too much weight too soon. They started asking me all sorts of questions, told me I was done working, and that they were sending me to the hospital. My husband was worried stiff, and I was slightly confused because I felt fine and I was only 25 weeks pregnant.

At the hospital they strapped a monitor to me, put a blood pressure cuff on my arm and gave me a shot to mature the baby's lungs. I kept saying to myself, "What has them so worried, what's going on that is so bad? I feel fine." Just as I finished that thought, I saw the blood pressure reading of 190/110.

Soon one of the doctors said they had gotten some of my lab tests back and they were going to admit me to the hospital, they informed me I had pre-eclampsia/toxemia. By this time, all of our friends and family that we called arrived at the hospital and kissed me, hugged me, held my hand, and told me everything would work itself out. Then the other shoe dropped.

The doctors came back and informed us that I was too far along and that they needed to deliver the baby ASAP via a c-section. At this point my husband broke down into tears. They sent in the NICU staff to tell us all the things that could/may happen and the chances of the baby living.

At 8:55pm on March 14, 2002, a baby boy was born. He cried, peed on the staff and was breathing on his own. They put him in an isolet and wheeled him up to me so I could see him. He was beautiful, perfect, pink and tiny. He was then taken out the doors and down to the NICU. As the staff wheeled me back to my room, the doctors informed my husband and our families that the next 24-48 hours were not only critical for our son, but for me too! One or both of us could take a turn for the worse and die. I am happy to say we both made it.

We had no names picked out so on the third day, Saturday, we came up with Sebastian Colwyn. I was well enough on the third day to go see our son. He was now hooked up to all kinds of tubes, wires and a ventilator. He had a patch over his eyes, his eyes were fused shut, his skin was transparent, he was red as a beet, and he was shiny (due to the special cream they had to put on him to protect his skin). They had what looked like plastic-wrap on top of his open bed to keep him warm. It was all so surreal. It had not sunk in that I was the mother of a micro-preemie, and that he was in a NICU. So began Sebastian's 5-month ordeal.

On August 19, 2002 Sebastian graduated from the NICU. He came home with no oxygen, machines, or tube feedings. Due to the advances in medicine, dedicated hospital staff, wonderful groups like the MARCH OF DIMES and a little faith, Sebastian is a happy, healthy, two-year-old.

Have YOU thanked an RN or CNA today? Bless the caregivers among you,

Shawnee