When Little Pencil was born I was worried. I know it’s hard to believe.
He was tiny, just over a kilo in weight and under 30cm stretched our from his ridiculously tiny almost transparent toes to his perfect little head. A head that fitted into the palm of my hand.
He had a hard time of staying with us. He was ventilated, he was kept alive by machines and medicines. The first thing that passed his lips was medication. The first hands that held him were doctor’s hands. No soft surrounds and calm, relaxing environment but bright lights, surgical implements, machines and invasive testing.
I worried about his health, I worried that he would not make it.
But he was a strong, little boy and the care he received cannot be praised highly enough. The doctors, the nurses, the surgeons and the specialists – they talked us through it as they worked so hard on him and they fought with him to ensure he survived. And thrived.
But each week at the hospital as the radiologist wheeled in her equipment to do his routine brain scans I panicked from deep inside. I knew that our beautiful child was going to be okay, I knew that he was going to come home with us as soon as he was big enough but everything I read led me to believe that my little boy would always struggle. He would have difficulty learning, he would always be slightly behind his peers as he tried to make up for the fact that he came into our lives 10 weeks early .
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I googled like a mad woman, looking to find different outcomes and answers for my son. But I only came across the same information time and time again. Same messages, sometimes different words
Studies have also shown that learning and development problems occur more often in children who were born prematurely. Health professionals and teachers should monitor your child’s development in the early years, and arrange extra help if it is needed.
It is 10 years later. I have just received a letter that reads in part
It is my pleasure to offer Ethan a position in the 2012 Year 5 Opportunity Class
The Opportunity Class, according to the school’s website “offers gifted children the ability to work with like minded ability peers to provide them with challenges to reach their full potential. Students apply for the OC class and are assessed on general ability, English and Mathematics skills “.
My tiny little baby who struggled so hard is a 10 year old boy with the biggest smile, the kindest heart and a gifted brain.
I am deliriously proud, ecstatically happy. And not a bit worried.
Oh, well done Little Pencil! xx
Love it! A thriving example of hope for all premies.
Oh my goodness. Who’d ever have thought such a scrawny little fellow was destined to bring his mummy such a naches overload!!
I am so happy for all of you, what an all-round achiever you have nurtured there. Bless your little family xxxx
Shedding a little tear over here Lana, for you & for your little one. A happy tear. I work with small people everyday. Some of them, premies like Ethan. Some of them who’ve experienced medical hell & all of whom are some of the most inspiring and strong individuals I’ve ever met. I wasn’t a nurse decade ago BUT I love reading stories like this one. They are the reason I love my job so much.
Go Little Pencil!!! What a wonderful little boy you have Lana. Must be the work of a wonderful mother. xx
I just cried. What a moment. Bless pencil and every bit of hope and wonder he stood and stands for.
His story makes my heart sing xxxx
Oh Lana …. Oh that is such sweet news! Ethan will have such an opportunity ( pun intended) at the OC class !!! Thrilled from the school principal view point too – had 2 OC classes at my school. To think that with the competition for places Ethan made it in…… Woot Woot!!! So pleased for you & hub… Those years have brought you a happy, sporty, bright boy who probably still doesn’t eat enough… But, what a premmie success story. Much love Denyse xxx
Oh, I’m crying, Lana. What an achievement?!
What a fantastic achievement! Congrats Little Pencil! And to you, Lana, and your husband, for raising such a wonderful young boy. Xx
even i have similar story, could u please add some snaps, my lit one is a year old.
It may be the pregnancy hormones, or the fear of a premature baby, or maybe probably just the way you wrote, but I’m sitting here on the train with tears in my eyes.
Thanks for a beautiful post x
Beautiful story…I was enrolled in an OC class as well…fantastic experience…he’s going to love it…
My Father was born premi…very premi…but that was 1911…he was tiny…only the length of my grandfathers’s hand (but he was a big bloke)…
My father spent the first few weeks of his life at home in a shoe box wrapped in cotton wool….how he survived, no one knows…
Lans, you’ve written a post that so beautifully expresses your feelings. And at the same time are giving premmie parents everywhere a heart-warming message that yes, it will be okay. xxxxx
YAY!!! That is wonderful!
Lana, what a sharp Little Pencil you have. And you know it wasn’t just the doctors and the medicines and machines that pulled him through-it was his mother’s and father’s love. Congratulations to you all xxxxx
Well done, Little Pencil: from a former OC nerd-you’re going to love learning amongst quirky, like-minded peers!
I have a friend who was born 3 months premmie, went to OC and accelerated at a selective high school, now earning oodles of money. Your story made me teary! Beautifully written. Xo
This is a magic tale & gave me a little shiver of pleasure reading & feeling how joyful an occasion this must be for all – well done 🙂
Lana, I welled up reading the news about Ethan. How lovely for all of you. He is going to grow into a truly inspirational adult. His strength, no doubt, passed on from you and your husband. Looking forward to chatting with you today on 4BC.
Loretta Ryan x