HANNAH’S JOURNEY

A glimpse of the life of a Micro Preemie…..

By: Rachel Workman

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Hannah Workman was born on a Friday ….It was June 13th, 2003.

She was born at 24 wks gestation weighing in at 1lb and 7 ozs and only 12 inches long.

HER JOURNEY WAS LONG….

She began her journey in the NICU at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, WV.

THE CARE SHE RECEIVED WAS GREAT…..

She has been seen by Dr. Gilbert Ratcliff from the time of her birth until present day.

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The NICU Nursing Staff is top notch. Hannah spent her first 85 days of life in the NICU so it us safe to say they become to be family. I cant begin to thank them enough for watching over my baby.

LIFE WAS THE QUESTION…AND PRAYER WAS THE ANSWER!

Many times during her hospital stay Hannah‘s life was hanging in the balance. She went back and forth on numerous breathing devices and struggled to live during most of her stay. I do believe if it wasn’t for prayers (despite of the awesome care she received) we would have never brought her home.

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Once we brought Hannah home we learned that their were many developmental obstacles she would have to overcome. We enrolled her into a program Called Birth to Three.

PHYSICAL THERAPY AND SPEECH THERAPY Hannah took part in the

programs physical therapy and speech therapy.

The physical therapy helped with avoiding a delay in developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking.

We used the speech therapy to help her get the basics of speech under control.

DEVELOPMENT WAS THE KEY…. We made sure to take part in every program and to use

every source available to ensure her growth on a timely schedule. Unfortunately preemies are forced to play catch until they do in fact catch up with their age group.

We were able to leave the Birth to Three program a year early due to the fact that Hannah caught up a year ahead of schedule.

EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE….

Today Hannah is doing great. She is now six years old and in the first grade. She has no developmental delays and is perfectly healthy.

MY BABY GIRL IS FULL OF LIFE….

HER SMILE REMINDS ME DAILY OF HOW GOOD IT IS TO BE ALIVE….

SHE UNDERSTANDS HER STRUGGLE…And wants the world to know there is nothing she can’t do. She is a fighter and doesn’t know how to lose. Her life is testimony to the mercy of God. The story of someone so small having a will as big as the heavens.