Today always takes me back to this moment…  my husband and I standing over Sam’s isolette, 11 weeks before his due date, looking at this tiny little boy and quietly praying for what his future would hold.

Nothing prepares you for the fear, the hope, or the strength you discover in those first days in the NICU. I remember wondering if he would breathe on his own… if he would grow… if he would ever get to run, laugh, or do all the simple things we take for granted.

And now he does all of that and so much more.
He’s curious, kind, determined, and full of life in a way that reminds me just how far he’s come.

World Prematurity Day is a reminder of how strong these little fighters truly are, and how incredibly grateful I am for the doctors, nurses, and everyone who helped Sam fight his way into the world. But it’s also a reminder of the parents who are standing where we once stood, watching, waiting, hoping.

If that’s you right now, I see you. You’re stronger than you feel. And your little one is stronger than you can imagine.

My Sam is living proof. 💜

For this child, we have prayed. 1: Samuel 1:27