Happy Birthday, KatyBeth!

[sfhogman]

This letter to his daughter was written by Ambulance Driver, aka Kelly Grayson, a blogger, gun nut,
EMT and accomplished writer... His daughter was born prematurely after suffering a bleed in her brain while in utero. She was not supposed to survive.

Boy, did she survive!

Linked here is a letter that Kelly has written to the love of his life, his daughter. Long read, but really worth it:

http://www.ambulancedriverfiles.com/2014/11/23/happy-birthday-katybeth-2/

Kleenexes optional.

Jeff

 

[Colonialgirl]

A moving letter. No one that has not experienced it can know what it like to have your little one, your first born in the Newborn ICU. Mine, my darling daughter, my sweet one was operated on at one day old what they "thought" was a blockage in lower intestine. IN stead they found that it came to a point where it ended and then after a gap restarted, plus there were sections that the doctor described as being similar to a soda straw with the air sucked out. I never knew how many places they re-sectioned her intestine, BUT I due know she lost over a third of it. I have learned her condition is called Illeal Atresions.
Thirteen days in the ICU and we could only see , hold and touch her for hour for 10 minutes every hour. Then there were the many months when she HAD to be fed a special "pre-digested" formula that had to be cooked and would STILL clog nipples in the bottle. Should I mention the poor little red rear end from the un-absorbed stomach acids, the tendency to diarrhea. She was ours and I loved her from the first time I saw her. She finally out grew some of the problems and the only apparent effect is that she is NOT as tall as she might have been (She's only 5' 1"). I have since learned that they have found that over time while intestine NEVER recovers the length, it does grow in diameter until the absorption area is equal to normal (isn't nature wonderful?) My sweet little blond First born is now approaching 43 years of age and is healthy and full of life.
She's STILL my little girl and always will be.