Reply to Early premies: do they ever live normal healthy lives?

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[quote=Anonymous]"this is a huge burden for the health care industry"

Probably not more so than people who overeat to obesity or people who smoke. I am the mom of a preemie and I always chafe a little when I hear people talk about the burden or cost of saving a micropreemie's life. If anybody "deserves" a chance, "deserves" the cost, it's these innocent creatures. I hate using the word "deserves," though, because I think everybody deserves the best health treatment possible, regardless of life choice--but I don't know how else to put it. Most people wouldn't bat an eyelash at lifesaving treatment being offered to someone whose lifestyle choices cause them to be in ill health but people can get prickly when you talk about saving a micropreemie's life. Why?

My DD was born at 29 weeks. She weighed 3 lbs. She is a typically developing 15 month old who walked and talked early. While she was at the NICU, we made friends with the parent of a baby born at 23w5d. He weighed 1 lb 2 oz and that was considered "big." We have kept up with them and see them often, and their son is now 17 months and doing fine. He wears glasses because he had retinopathy of prematurity. No suspicion of CP. Happy, healthy, lucky, awesome kid.

FWIW, my grandfather was described as a "six months child" when she was born in 1919. The doctor kept meticulous notes because nobody expected him to live. His twin died at birth and he spent the first weeks of his life in a box on the back of the woodstove to keep him warm. He grew up to be a WWII vet and died at age 90. [/quote]

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