Kendra
One Month Old: 94/04/16
Weight 1100g (almost 2 1/2 lbs)

Kendra was born on March 13, 1994, weighing 1040 g. (2 lb. 2 ozs.), at 27 weeks gestation. She was originally due on June 5, 1994. She was born at Mount Sinai Hospital, High Risk Ward, in Toronto, Canada.

Kendra was my first child and there was no history, or any medical problems, apparent during my pregnancy that would lead to premature birth. During the first ultrasounds I had, they did discover an amniotic band and the doctor watched it carefully to ensure it didn't interfere with Kendra's growth. Kendra was also in the breech position.

On Thursday, March 10, 1994, I was "feeling kind of crampy" and went to see my doctor. She knew I was under quite a bit of personal stress (work, home, etc.) and thought it would be a good idea if I went for a few tests at the hospital. (Thank you Dr. Kim Williams - now residing in Arizona.)

On Friday, March 11, I went to Peel Memorial Hospital in Brampton. They performed a "stress test" where they monitored Kendra's heartbeat for a lengthy period and then viewed the results on a tape. They felt that there were some "strange" results so, off I went to the ultrasound department.

The ultrasound showed that my cervix had shortened considerably. The doctor at Peel Memorial, consulted with my family doctor and I was sent to Mount Sinai Hospital in downtown Toronto, that day. I was admitted into the High Risk Pregnancy Ward and given morphine to relax my "contractions". I didn't feel any contractions, but they were obviously occurring. Along with being administered morphine, I received a steroid injection (can't remember the name) to assist Kendra's lung development.

During the next two days, I was repeatedly given morphine. I started to feel the contractions on the Sunday afternoon. Within a couple of hours, I went into full blown labor. The doctor came to check on me after I had complained to the nurses (for ever it seemed), about the pain. Immediately, I was rushed (screaming, I might add) to the operation room and put under a general anesthetic.

After undergoing and emergency cesarean section (mid-sectioned), Kendra was delivered. I woke up in the recovery room and viewed her for the first time.

She was so tiny. Her little hand could grasp only the tip of your finger. I was only allowed to see her for a second and she was rushed away the the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU). That would be her home for the next two and a half months.