Dear Helen and Michele:
I wanted to thank you for your amazing creation —
My Early Arrival Baby Journal. This journal has been a
godsend! When my son was born 12 weeks premature, our
lives were turned upside-down! We spent over 10 weeks
in the hospital. During the long days in the NICU, I would
sit and write in my journal, and flip forward and dream
of the days ahead.
Your book certainly helped pass the time and showed me
that, even when the doctors were not optimistic, I did
have something to look forward to!
Additionally, "normal" baby journals no longer
apply to us. We weren't able to hold our son for four
days. He was hooked up to machines until just a couple
of days before he went home. We didn't leave the hospital
within 48 hours. Very few, if any, pages in other baby
books apply to us. We are thrilled that our son can still
have a baby book of his own!
Please know that I am so thankful for you and your journal!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
- Angie
"I love this book! Until my daughter was born at 32 weeks,
I had no idea just how many challenges and milestones preemies
face... My daughter spent 5 weeks in the hospital being
weaned from heated beds, feeding tubes, and respiratory
care machines before we could think about bringing her home. We
would not want to forget any of the happy days when each
of these tiny but important milestone were met. Thanks to
the Early Arrival Baby Journal, I have a precious record
of the many joys we experienced during what can only be
considered a scary time in my family's life. The Journal
offers parents an opportunity to express their fears, disappointments,
and joys that go along with the world of neonatal care.
It is a special book that my family will cherish forever.
I remember one of my daughter's nurses telling me that preemies
love to hear "their stories" when they get older. Now my
daughter and I have will be able to look at her special
baby journal and remember together."
- Christy Sandy, parent of preemie
daughter
“Our Foundation purchased enough of these wonderful baby
books so that we could give one to each parent with a preemie
born at less than 32 weeks gestation. Our parents are so
excited and have thanked us many times over. Just today,
I saw one new mom arrive in the unit clutching her book
close to her heart as if she were holding her own baby who
is too sick to hold. The books give the parents something
to work on during those long hours at their baby's bedside
and I am sure these will be priceless memories in years
to come.”
- Linda Kessler, Manager, NICU, Wake Medical Center
“This book is a very welcome addition to the books available for families of premature
infants. This is a "baby book" that allows a family to record events, not only to celebrate the
birth of their new baby, but also to acknowledge the special challenges that being born too
early may bring. The authors show a wise sensitivity to the conflicting feelings that families
of premature babies may have. And the artwork is lovely. I suspect many in neonatology
will say, "at last", such a book is available.”
- Laurie Dunn, M.D., Neonatologist
