Well, Papa knows best. This is part of an e-mail received from my uncle, Claire's father.

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My understanding from what the doctors told us is that babies born before 24 weeks have virtually no chance of surviving. Babies born at 24 weeks have a 2% chance of surviving and living a completely normal life with no disabilities. Babies born at 25 weeks have a 15% chance, and babies born at 26 weeks have a 50% chance. Claire was at 23 weeks and 5 days when we were admitted into the hospital and she was born at 12:56am on week 24 day 6.

Claire is currently in the IICU (Infant Intensive Care Unit) at [censored]. She has a long road in front of her. Things went well on day 1, but the doctors warned us that there is usually a "honeymoon" period where they all do well. They also said there will be good days and bad days. Tonight (day 2) when we left they took an x-ray because they had to increase her oxygen levels slightly. They found that the top part of her right lung was slightly collapsed, which is not uncommon. They moved her to her left side and were massaging her right chest. The doctors will be looking for heart murmurs in the next couple of days, which is also not uncommon. And tonight she will undergo a blood transfusion, again very common.

If everything goes well, Claire will be able to come home near her original due date, which was November 4, 2002. Please continue to keep Claire in your prayers and feel free to call or visit.
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So yeah. They have pictures of her online as well. I cried when I saw them. She's beautiful but... just covered with tubes and everything. She must be tiny. Her skin looks so fragile even. I haven't seen her in person yet, so I can't tell you exactly how small she is but... think of it this way. The IV tubes, are bigger then her fingers.

Please. Keep praying for her. She's been a miracle so far.
Keep praying for Ken and Jen (mommy and daddy) and Danny (big brother) too. They're all struggling in one way or another.

My aunt had a baby girl in the wee hours of this morning (Sunday). Her name is Claire Louise (not sure on the spelling yet). She's 12 inches long and weights 1 pound, 9 ounces. She's currently on life support, and in 'stable' condition. That's rather tentative and everything has been hour to hour so far.
Mom (Aunt Jen) has been cleared to go home, but she's remaining in the hospital with baby Claire.

For those of you out there praying for them... please. Keep up the good work. Baby Claire wasn't even supposed to survive the birth.

Well, there is now a 4% chance the baby will live. No delivery yet. Her water is leaking, but hasn't broken . This is a good thing. But... labor is still in process. They need to delay it at least another two weeks. This gives the baby a 50% chance to live. She gets to 26 weeks (I believe she's at like... 21 right now?) there is a good chance the baby will live.

So we're just hoping that it all works out.

My aunt is still in the hospital. She's about 20 weeks along in her pregnancy. Last evening, she was fully dilated. If her water breaks, they have to deliver the baby. They think her water is beginning to break. If they deliver the baby now, there is a 2% chance it will survive or be 'normal'. They've tried to slow labor, and the contractions are slowing but... it still doesn't look good.

14 month old Danny, their first son, is staying at home with grandparents. Ken, the husband, is at the hospital with Jen. They're pretty much refusing visitors, just wanting to be alone for the moment.

This... is hard. This child is my cousin... and... things just aren't looking good. I'm trying to be positive, but it's really hard.

Please... keep them in your thoughts, in your prayers.

Let me start off by saying...


Yeah. I'm just so sick of all this... shtuff.

I can't wait for school to come back around. Time for bed.


Just... smile and nod.