Reuben, 29 weeks

I went into labor at 29 weeks and 2 days after severe hemorrhaging and an emergency C Section. Reuben was sent immediately to the NICU where he quickly sustained a grade 3 brain bleed (later downgraded to a grade 2) and several pulmonary hemorrhages. He was intubated for weeks and we couldn't even hold him for weeks after he was born. It was the single most devastating time in our lives and we didn't know if he would develop "typically" or have serious health problems. He was in the NICU for 61 days.

Almost two years later, Reuben is the healthiest, happiest, funniest, and most typical kid in the world. Nobody would ever know from looking at him or engaging with him that he had such a hard and scary beginning to his life. He is incredibly verbal, loves other children, loves playing and learning and singing, and just is generally the sweetest and most gorgeous guy around.

If you are reading this with a little one in the NICU, please, please, please know that we were in the depths of despair. Literal hell. I remember seeing photos of healthy, grown babies like this and thinking "that will never be Reuben." I hope this story can be helpful to you.