Wednesday, March 25, 2015

The Cook Twins' NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy Preemie Prints' families’ inspirational story & photos. 
Consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. We thank our supporters, Preemie Prints volunteers, and donors for allowing us to continue touching the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families.


We pray these special memories from Preemie Prints 
will help families heal and remember how strong 
they were in overcoming their NICU journey together.

A NICU STORY | THOUGHTS FROM MOM

“I will never forget when my husband and I found out we were pregnant or when we were told it was twins! What a scary and exciting time. I had a pretty boring pregnancy (no cravings, sickness, etc.) up until 30 weeks. I started swelling up really bad and having high blood pressure. At my 31 week appointment everything was great with the babies and I was measuring 41 weeks! Yikes! Doctor told me it was time to stop working and sent me to do my protein test. I was on my way out the door when she caught me and told me that I had a lot of protein in my urine and needed to stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring. After 24 hours they discovered my kidneys were not working due to severe preeclampsia. I was feeling fine (just tired) and never expected any of this. The doctor went back and forth for a couple days of whether to take the babies or let me ride it out as long as I could. I got steroid shots and still was determined to make it a couple more weeks. On the 13th of February they let me go home to be on bed rest in my own bed. Labs and blood pressure were not good, but were not getting worse. Doctor said I could ride it out until something spiked. The next morning, Friday, February 14th, I went in for labs and was told today had to be the day. I remember crying that it was too soon but everything happened quickly and I was not given an option. Unfortunately, I was so swollen that after 3 epidurals that did not work, they had to put me to sleep. At 11:55 and 11:56am my beautiful girls, Jonna and Jolie, were born at 3.5lbs each. I was so in love and it ended up being the best Valentine's ever! They were in the NICU for a month and it was really hard. I hated leaving them and all the ups and downs were draining. They were so tiny and needed help to do all the things other babies are born knowing. It broke my heart but the NICU staff at Scott and White in College Station were fabulous and I couldn't have asked for better nurses! If you have a little one in the NICU just know there is light at the end of the tunnel and to never stop praying! Jonna and Jolie are now thriving, beautiful, one year olds!!!”








Photos belong to our volunteer photographers, families, 
and organization please do not use for any purpose. 
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Preemie Prints is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sharing hope with NICU families through a variety of support programs. One of those programs is the gift of NICU photography and preemie photography. NICU families from across the US can request a no-charge photography session by a Preemie Prints volunteer. The family request from can be found on the right side of our website. These sessions are free of charge and for any NICU family, regardless of time spent in the NICU. The NICU photo shoot can take place inside the NICU or after baby is discharged and at home until their 1st birthday. Facing time in a NICU with a premature or critically ill baby is an extremely difficult time for families. Preemie Prints has a mission to share hope by letting families know they are not alone. Preemie Prints currently has over 100 volunteers nationwide. We are always looking for more volunteers to share in our mission! If you are interested, please email sherri@preemieprints.org and visit our website at www.preemieprints.org. To date Preemie Prints and our volunteers have gifted over 400 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near College Station, TX.

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