At 26 weeks I was put into the hospital on strict bed rest. I had pre-eclampsia, and it was advancing rapidly. At 27 weeks two specialists were called in, and we were told that today was the day…my baby was going to come into the world 13 weeks early. At 10 am I was wheeled into the operating room where a roomful of masked, white-coated people stood - fear in their eyes. I knew in my heart that not only was my baby going to be okay, but that God was in the room with me. After an emergency c-section, at about 10:10 am, my baby girl was shown to me for a split second and then rushed to the NICU. I closed my eyes and woke up back in my room. The neonatologist was giving my friends and family an overview of Chloe's outcome…"She probably won't make it through the night," I heard. For the next few hours I was in and out of consciousness.

The first time I saw Chloe she was under bright lights with tubes everywhere. Her skin was so thin I could see her organs. Every breath she took was given to her by oxygen and moved her entire body. I wanted to die. I wanted to take all the hurt away, all the pain…I wanted to hold her…I wanted to leave. I started to cry, and one of the nurses said to me, "Honey, this is your baby." This can't be my baby - there must be some mistake. She's small, yes, they told me that - I remember…1 lb. 6.7 oz. and 12.5 inches long. But this…this can't be her, she's so frail, so tiny, so not what I expected. The nurse lifted the plastic "tent" that lay over her and encouraged me to touch her. I didn't want to…I was very afraid… The moment I got up the courage to reach my hand out to her, Chloe's hand shot out and touched my finger. I melted. This was my child…my miracle.

Because of such advanced medicine and studies with the March of Dimes, Chloe was thriving. Every day was a miracle and every day had its ups and downs. We spent countless hours next to her bedside, singing, reading and holding her. Once Chloe hit 5 pounds she was able to come home…on her due date. She came home on a heart/apnea monitor and had weekly visits to the doctor for advanced ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) in her eyes. Her ROP was on the verge of requiring surgery, when it started to quickly diminish. We were amazed. Her heart/apnea monitor was the next to go.

Today Chloe is a 15-pound, healthy 1-year-old. Her 1-year birthday was August 25, 2004! Her tests are judged by her adjusted age of 9 months and so far…she's right on target!!! I truly believe that Chloe wouldn't have made it through the night had it not been for the amazing technology and the numerous prayers that surrounded our baby.

Make a donation in honor of Chloe.