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Robinson Family

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Our little journey began on February 26th, 2015. That was the day my husband and I found out that we were going to be parents for the first time. Little did we know our journey was about to be a roller coaster ride no parent wants to go on! The amount of emotion we had was unbelievable! 

We were so thankful and filled with so much joy that the Lord gave us this precious miracle!!! I had been on Clomid to try and get pregnant. We went to the doctor in March and found out our baby would be here around November 5th. June rolled around and we found out that we were having a little boy!!!! 

Brian and I both were so excited about our sweet baby boy!!! 

When July came we started seeing that Jag was measuring behind 2 weeks and then the next week we went to see Dr. Sandlin at UAMS and Jag was now measuring another week behind. 

That day Dr. Sandlin prepared us that we would most likely be having a premature baby. He wasn't sure at the time what was causing his growth lag or how premature he would be. I was 26 weeks to the day that day we saw him.

I remember being so overwhelmed and didn't know whether to cry or just get down on my knees and pray for my sweet baby. Brian was so strong for me but I know he was worried. We didn't know at this point if our baby would make it. The fear of the unknown was surrounding us at this point. 

The next day my blood pressure began to rise. Then that Saturday I was admitted to UAMS for observation and they did multiple tests and I was a puzzle to all of the doctors. They said I wasn't a text book example of preeclampsia but I had some symptoms. 

That following Wednesday they decided I was doing good and I could possibly go home in bed rest the next day if my blood work came back good. The Saturday before I received steroid injections in case I had Jag so that maybe that would help his lungs. Early Thursday morning around 3:30 I woke up hurting in my back. I thought it was gas pain or from being in that bed for so many days. My lab work was drawn at 4:00 am and I had received some medicine to see if it was gas. The pain just continued to get worse and so they decided to check my lab again and found that my platelet count had dropped more and my liver enzymes elevated. 

They told me then I had HELLP syndrome and that I had to have my baby or I would continue to get worse and it would eventually hurt the baby lose him or worse we could lose us both. 

Jag Colby Robinson was born at 27 weeks and was 1 pound 5 ounces and 13 inches long on August 6th, 2016 at 11:01 am!!! Our sweet little man spent 117 days in the NICU at UAMS. He had the best care from the nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists and other therapy team members. 

March of Dimes was also another wonderful group of people that made our stay in the NICU more memorable. I never imagined someone so tiny could have such a large impact in our lives!!! We are so thankful for our little miracle! 

Jag is now 9 months old or 6 months adjusted. He is our real life super hero!!!! My husband and I are truly blessed the Lord gave us our sweet baby Jag!!


*** Below are just a few samples of Jag's photos. For the full amount, please use the link above to view the photos on the OneDrive cloud account. There are over 800 photos ***








Guzman Family

Family Story Assets (Word Document, Photos)
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Rubi Guzman had an uneventful pregnancy until, for unknown reasons, she went into early labor. Her son, Andres, was born prematurely on September 28, 2015, at 25 weeks, weighing 1 lb.,15 oz. Nothing could prepare Rubi and her husband, Israel, for the fear and uncertainty that would come during most of their baby’s 4-month hospital stay, but March of Dimes NICU Family Support was there to help.

While the professionals in the NICU at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital
in Chicago handled Andres’s medical emergencies, Jessica Bowen, MSW, LCSW, NICU Family Support Specialist, immediately cared for his parents. Rubi says, “I never had

to go looking for her. She always found us!” Jessica offered information about the NICU; helped them create a keepsake of their baby’s milestones; prepared them for their first Kangaroo Care experience — holding their son skin-to-skin — and set up holiday celebrations.

“I try to anticipate ways that we can make each day just a little bit easier — with a class, a change in family-centered care practices, or something as simple as a smile,” Jessica explains. She also arranged for Sara Johnson, a former NICU parent of twins and a key part of the parent-to-parent volunteer program, to spend time with the family and listen to their concerns. “I wanted to get involved to provide hope, encouragement and support to the Guzmans because that same compassion had such a positive impact on my own family,” Sara explained.

Israel, Andres’s dad, spent as much time as he could by his son’s side and recalls, “Without NICU Family Support, our whole experience would have been scarier. The professionals were great, but we couldn’t expect them to be with us.” The best preparation with Jessica and the staff was the 3-week transition from hospital to home, leading up to Andres’s discharge on January 28, 2016, after 123 days, when he weighed 8 lbs.,12 oz.!















Tanuvasa Family



“Having a premature baby was definitely NOT the plan. The first few hours, days, and even weeks were the scariest of my entire life. 
Then the nurses became friends and not just health care professionals. Amy came by and sat and spoke with me all about March of Dimes and what they offered, which is really just a good friend/support. 
The doctors would stop by even when Abraham wasn’t their assignment and became just as genuinely excited as we were about Abraham’s progress, even if it was the smallest victory, like increasing a feed by 5 mL! 
Having a premature baby, introduced us to an entire community of people that we would never have been blessed to know!”



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