I have not been on this site for a while, I found it whilst TTC my 2nd child hoping for a dd (already have a ds - now 3.5yrs) At 16 weeks it was confirmed ds2 was on his way - I was very saddened by this as my dh is def said no more and I always wanted girls.

Well, after a hard pregnancy with lots of bleeding and pain, At exactly 26 weeks I went into hospital with some pains and was examined and scanned, I was told the baby was small, lying across and I was in labour and was 4cm, within the next 8-10 minutes, he turned around, my waters broke, I was 10cm and he was out. It was the scariest moment of my life. This red raw baby whose head was pure purple just 'flopped' out of me and placed straight into a plastic bag, I assumed the worst, but was told he was alive as they ran with him to the NNU. After 3 hours we got to see him - We were told he was small at only 690grams (1lb 8oz) so was more 24/25 weeks.

Our journey had just started, Joshua was very very ill, he had a lumber puncher, x-rays, injected to draw off urine, loads of bloods taken and anti-biotics were having no effect on him and we were told there was nothing else they could do, somehow he pulled through - this happened another 7 times !!! Just as he was growing at 9 weeks old, I was feeding him and he stopped breathing - it took a team of nurses and doctors to resusitate him - his heart stopped for 5 minutes. At this point we discovered he had a hernia that needed surgery - that day was awful - he was only just 3lbs and had a bad reaction to the anesthetic and it took him 3 days before he woke up. After 12 weeks and 7 blood transfusions he came home weighing 3lb 6oz.

Today Joshua is 6 and half months, 10lb 2oz, fully breastfeeding and as yet has no lasting effects from his early / ill start to life. His medical notes say 'born in very very poor condition, with a heartrate less than 60 and no respiritory effort at all'

He really is my little miracle. I do still feel the need for a daughter but it has made me see that health is far far more important.

Please watch Joshuas video diary:

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=50ba66299bbcf4a1dfb84a&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

I hope this helps a few of you out there.

Thanks for reading,

Amy.

Wow. What a little fighter Joshua has been! Congratulations to you (and to him!) for being such strong people.

Absolutely awesome video, I was in tears.  Thanks for sharing!  Stories like yours really put things in perspective.  May God continue to bless you and your family.

 What an insirational story!! Joshua is beautiful!!

 Wow, I can hardly type through the tears. What a beautiful baby and an incredible story. It was so amazing to finally see him smile after all he had been through. I love the photo of the two brothers together. Thank you so much for sharing this.

sobbing!  he is amazing.  i cant imagine what you have all been through.  so glad he is well.  thank you!!!! 

Beautiful slideshow, beautiful boy, and a heartwarming story.  Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thank you for sharing your story.  I've watched the video a few times and cry each time.  He was so tiny and fragile.  I don't know how you made it through that tough time- you must be very strong.  Now he looks so robust and happy and gorgeous!   My brother was a preemie born at 29 weeks.   He came while my parents were on vacation in Canada.  That was 34 years ago and they didn't have the equiptment they do now to keep preemies alive.  The hospital told my mom to prepare herself for the worst but she said she just knew he was going to make it and he did!  Now he's tall, handsome, successful and never had a health problem his entire life.  Good luck to you and your little marvel- you will have a very special bond with him:)

Julie