Our Ben.....

....just turned 24 years old!  Every time his birthday rolls around, I am filled all over again with thankfulness for his life.  Ben was born at 27 1/2 weeks gestation, 3 months premature.  He was due on March 30th, but arrived January 1st instead, weighing in at 2# 4 oz. (he went as low as 1# 14 oz).  The reason for his prematurity is because I have an incompetent cervix, which we did not know about until I went into labor with him.  An emergency C-section was performed after a weekend of trying to stop my labor.  Ben spent 98 days in the NICU at the Reading Hospital, during which time he almost died several times.  This NICU had only opened in Sept. before Ben was born and he was the 2nd preemie who was born there.

Day he was born....

Because the NICU was new, we were featured in the Reading Eagle.....

This is the day he was finally able to come home, weighing 4# 14 oz.  He came home wearing a monitor for a few months, because he still had trouble with his breathing.

One year old....

The NICU had a 1 year reunion.  This was Dr. "K", who was Jewish and gave the best of care to Ben.  On several occasions we would find him sitting and holding Ben when we came in for our visit.  Him and the rest of the staff became our family.

Life moved on, Ben had his health struggles, but seemed to eventually outgrow them. We could write a book on his journey, but to tell you the truth, while writing this blog and looking through his pictures, sobs want to rise within me.  The memories are very alive.......   Ben has grown into a man, a man who is sensitive, caring and extremely positive.  You will never hear him complain!  and he is the one who usually lifts us up when life gets us down.  Thanks, Ben, for who you are and for what you teach us.  God has a plan for you......

We love you and Happy 24th!  We celebrated with family, straw hats, waffles and ice-cream. 

Until next time...............