Sunday, March 10 is the second annual Parents of Preemies Day. This year, there will be local events in nine cities, as well as our first virtual event, a Twitter chat we’re co-hosting with Alexa Stevenson, author of Half Baked, and Kasey Mathews, author of Preemie.
Bloggers and the media have stepped up to help us spread the word – Parents of Preemies Day has been even been spotted on Parenting.com and Babble. And parents of babies in NICUs around the country will walk into parents’ lounges where Parents of Preemies Day supporters have laid out spreads of snacks and other goodies.
So many parents and supporters have helped us spread the word – by blogging, sharing their stories on our Facebook page, and pledging to do something nice for the parents at their local NICUs on the big day. Blogger and preemie mom Rachel Cordeiro has done so much to help us share Parents of Preemies Day with moms and dads – and we wanted to share one of her beautiful poems here:
Each Day Too Long
Every passing moment
Each gaze upon your face
Longing to comfort you
Within my sweet embrace
The pain rips through my heart
Almost breaking it in two
Hoping, waiting, pleading—
I beg to hold you soon
But time passes slowly
Stopping. Standing.
Still.
Someday I will hold you
But until?
Each day too long
Faithfully we visit
We come both day and night
Watching in amazement
As you fight for your life!
Days to weeks, weeks to months
The calendar’s a blur
Doctors share statistics
“Her future is unsure”
Without a doubt we know
Praying. Believing.
Still.
Someday you’ll prove them wrong
But until?
Each day too long
Then our prayers were answered
The special day arrived
Bringing you home at last
No “roller-coaster-ride”!
Deep inside we wondered
What struggles lie ahead?
Had we known what we’d face
Fears would have turned to dread
Yes, there have been struggles
Adjusting. Learning.
Still.
But each moment you’re home
And until?
No day too long
My joy turns to sorrow
And quietly I weep
For each precious baby
Who gently went to sleep
My heart breaks for parents
Who know the greatest pain
Arms aching with longing
To hold their child again
Instead, dreams lie shattered
Grieving. Hurting.
Still.
For every moment gone.
And until?
Each day too long
As our lives continue
Fellow parents we’ll meet
Some stories already finished
Others not quite complete
No statistics matching
Similar—not the same
As we share our journey
We bear each other’s pain
This day’s for all of us.
Remembering. Celebrating.
Still.
Our courage yet remains
And will.
Each day too long.
Rachel Cordeiro blogs at This Journey Our Life and has three beautiful children. She said “This poem is dedicated to every parent of a preemie. Whether you were blessed to bring your baby home, or your heart still aches with grief because you couldn’t; whether you’ve walked the NICU journey in years past or are currently trudging along its path. Today—every day—you’re celebrated.”
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