Hi,

I'm new here. My name is Keira and my DH and I live outside of Atlanta with our 25 weeker surviving GGG triplets, Avery and Lily who will be 2 in December. Their sister, Zoe, died in February of this year. We have a very long story, one that I'm sure is quite similar to many others here. I'll try to condense it a little:

I had to deliver at 25 weeks 5 days due to preeclampsia. Avery weighed 1lb 4oz, Lily 1lb 6oz, and Zoe 1lb 10oz. Avery and Lily were stabilized fairly quickly although did require the oscillator and conventional vent for a few weeks. They each battled blood pressure issues, feeding intolerances, and a couple of infections. But after the first 6 weeks they just kept growing and improving. They came home when they were 4 months old with NG tubes and apnea monitors.

Zoe was a very different story. It took the drs 5 hours to stabilize her, she was on the oscillator for 7 weeks and the conventional vent for an additional 7, she had 4 chest tubes in her first weeks of life, had her PDA ligated, and for about the first 10-12 weeks I think the drs were pretty much telling us to prepare for her death each day. She didn't die in the NICU though, she just spent 9 1/2 months there and we did get to have her home on October 7, 2007. She came home on lots of meds, oxygen, g-tube, paralyzed vocal chord, and has severe bilateral hearing loss...but this baby was a very happy baby, she hardly ever cried unless her reflux was really bad.

All three were doing great at home until February when Zoe got the flu and pneumonia...we headed back to the hospital for 5 days. Got her home on Feb 13th but had to rush her back the morning of the 15th because her oxygen requirements kept climbing. She died in our arms in the PICU 12 hours later.

The last 8 months have been awful as you all well know. But through this we have started to find some hope, some meaning or at least a purpose for us to keep going. We started the Zoe Rose Memorial Foundation which will serve to help and support families of micro-preemies. We will also recognize Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness with a candle lighting remembrance ceremony which will be held this coming Saturday at 6:30pm in Monroe, Ga. Our local paper just ran a story about us and the ceremony in today's Sunday paper, the editor even wrote a letter urging our community at large to come out and support bereaved parents as we honor our angels.

At the ceremony we will have a candle for each child/baby that we know of who has passed (in utero, stillbirth, SIDS, illness, accident, infancy, early childhood) and we will say each child's name as we light their candles. I am up to 193 babies as of today, October 12th. If you'd like to add your baby to our list we would be honored to do so, just send me an email to klsorrells@yahoo.com

I've also kept a blog about my girls since their NICU days, if you care to visit there are more pictures of my children than you probably care to see I've also found blogging to be great therapy so I've written quite a bit on my grief journey since February.

So that's probably the longest introduction ever...but I'm glad to be here.

Keira
mom to Avery, Lily and angel Zoe

Welcome Keira,
It is nice to "see" you here too but, as always, am sad we have met through such terrible circumstances. I am in awe of all you have done with your foundation in such a short amount of time and am so thankful you will be reading Hadley's name on Saturday.
Jessica (from eLIMBO)

Jessica
Mom to Parker, McKenna, ^Hadley^ born 10/9/07 28w5d
little brother Sawyer
and big sister Ashlyn
www.fourplusanangel.com

Im so so so sorry for what you have been through, saying goodbye to your children is the most horrible thing a parent can go through. I welcome you to this wonderful site, where you can vent or seek support from others that "get" what you're going through, which in my experience, only someone who has lost a child will understand you.

Thank you for offering to honor our babies, I will add my babies, Daniel and Nicolle to your list.

Monique
Mom to 26.5wk triplets, born 09/14/06
^Nicole^
^Daniel^
Nathalie

Hi. I am sorry you are here but it is nice to see your here. I was touched by Zoe's story. I gave you Alex's name right? I think it is wonderful what you are doing and I know of some great mom's on here.

Our little angel
^Alex Joseph^ (11-4/11-5)
Brennan Matthew
Christian Jacob

"
Big brother Justin 8

Hoping all went well on the ceremony....

Monique
Mom to 26.5wk triplets, born 09/14/06
^Nicole^
^Daniel^
Nathalie

Hi,

Thank you for everyone's welcome...I know some of you from other triplet sources.

Just wanted to let you all know that the remembrance went very well. I've put pictures and the text from the service up on my blog if you care to check it out.

Go to http://3sorrells.blogspot.com

looking forward to talking more and getting to know you all.

Keira
mom to Avery, Lily, and angel Zoe

I loved the speech that you gave in the ceremony, it was so touching... My birthday is October 15th, I didnt know what the day meant....

Monique
Mom to 26.5wk triplets, born 09/14/06
^Nicole^
^Daniel^
Nathalie

Welcome to the board but really sorry that you had to join us. I lost my son Hayden about 17 and a half months ago. It will be the worst day of my life ever. Hayden is a triplet also and they were micro preemies also. They were born at 24 weeks and 6 days but are considered 24 weekers. Hayden had probbly the eaiset time in the NICU except with the eating part. I had them in March of 2006 and by the end of June we were all home. Hayden had the hardest time when we came home. They all came home on oxygen and apena montiors. Hayden was delayed by alot and we found out when he was a year old or about 8 months corrected that he had spastic cerebral palsy that affected all of him. He was also we belive deaf. We were still in the process of getting more testing done on his hearing when he passed away. He passed away due to unknown reasons. He passed away during his nap one day when he was 14 months old or ten months corrected. I found him face down in his crib gone. He did not expect it to happen not that it would of made it any eaiser. I am so thankful that I had the 14 months with him but I want so much more. YOur little ones are cuties. i am going to catch up on your blog when i can. Your daughter was about the same age as Hayden was when he passed I believe. Sorry to ramble on
Jaclyn

Jaclyn

http://thesheridangang.blogspot.com/

Jaclyn,

Thank you for sharing your story with me. As I've searched for other moms who have lost children I've had trouble finding another mom who can relate to everything we've been through from the micro-preemie multiples, to having them all home with "equipment", to losing one after being able to hold and cuddle and think that the worst was behind you. So, congratulations...you have fit my search "criteria"...lucky us huh?

We had Zoe home for four months and she was 4 days shy of 14 months old when she died, it's been 8 months now since I last held her but it sometimes feels like a lifetime ago. i have to watch our videos to believe that I actually did have her here, that she isn't just some wild figment of my imagination I've conjured up somehow. How are your survivors? I'm going to check in on your blog as well. I look forward to "talking" with you more.

Keira