"Hope faded when my contractions began at 16 weeks. I was in and out of the hospital a few times over the next few weeks and had to limit my activity. I was finally admitted to the antepartum unit at PinnacleHealth Harrisburg Campus at 24 weeks. My doctors are all affiliated with PinnacleHealth, so we knew we’d have access to the best technology and an experienced medical team."

"I was on full bed rest for eight weeks. It was hard on all of us, but the staff was amazing as was the support from our family, friends and employers. We were so fortunate."

"Every week that I stayed pregnant was an accomplishment. Our baby was due at the end of December, and we hoped to make it to Thanksgiving. We were thrilled when Halloween went by!"

"While I went home at 30 weeks, I returned to the hospital again at 32 weeks. When I finally went home again, we celebrated with pizza. At around 4:30 the next morning my water broke."

"Because the doctors’ weren’t certain I would deliver the baby that day, or even the next, I needed to be admitted to the hospital to be monitored for infection. Because our baby was eight weeks premature, we knew he would be admitted to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The neonatologist (doctor for high-risk babies) and a nurse from the NICU came to prepare us."

"The birth unit was busy, but I had everything I needed. The nurses were so helpful and caring. We were struck by how “normal” everything was (aside from having my obstetrician, perinatologist (doctor for high risk pregnancy) and a neonatologist in the delivery room at one point). Everyone was very calm, and they explained everything. It was so matter of fact, even light-hearted at times. I think that was the advantage of their experience. They had delivered high-risk babies so many times that the “routineness” of it kept us at ease."

"Just before 6 p.m., we were ready to push. Even with the specialists and the gravity of the situation, Kevin was part of the team. They put him to work."

"Luckily Jack arrived crying, so we felt confident his lungs were in decent shape. He had (and still has) a little tuft of brown hair. They whisked him to the NICU, but only after his doctor brought him over to meet us for a moment. He was tiny and fragile. While she was clearly happy for us, she was very serious about Jack’s care."

"When I saw him in the NICU I felt relief. The nurses quickly involved us in taking care of him, and I could see Jack was strong. The neonatal nurses allowed us to hold his hands and rub his head."

"A call to the NICU late that night assured me Jack was doing well. The nurses said he refused to keep the little tubes in his nose! The next morning we could hold him. They gave us pillows to support him and showed us how to wrap him to keep him warm. They helped me with breastfeeding, and they got us changing his diapers and checking his temperature."

"Four weeks later (two weeks early!), Jack came home. Because they taught us the skills we needed all along, we were confident and ready to care for him at home."

"You know, there were many times during my pregnancy that I felt guilty for taking such a risk. But no one else ever made me feel that way. No matter why we were there or what our history was. They were there to help us and give us the best possible care. And that’s what mattered to them, giving this little life the best possible start. A week after Jack was born we even got a note from our labor nurse thanking us for letting her be a part of his birth. We couldn’t believe it!"

"And now Jack is right on track with his development. He’s growing and thriving, and we’re just so blessed to have this wonderful, healthy little addition to our family. And now PinnacleHealth is an important part of our family, too."