Emily Miracle-Mae

Hi my name is Meghan, I am the Olin’s oldest daughter. This little beauty is my miracle, Emily Mae. 

Emily was born in 2001, her birth weight was 1lb 15 oz, she was 13in long.

I was 25 weeks along when Emily was born.  There were complications during my pregnancy that caused me to go into early labor.    Within the first few days Emily went down to 1lb 8oz, and had problems with her lungs.  They had her on a respirator for the first week of her little life.  During her 73-day stay at the Hospital she went though many things like heart murmurs, respiratory failure, heart failure, dehydration, and lack of appetite. The doctors told me at first that she probably wasn’t going to make it.  My family, friends, and church prayed for her constantly, and I know that those prayers were what pulled her though. 

I remember one day, the doctors called me about 8AM, and told me her heart murmur had once again come back, and they were preparing her for heart surgery.  I called my parents in tears, and told them what was going on.  Instantly they began to pray for her. About 2 hours later I was permitted to see Emily, the doctor was there, and had just finished doing a second echo of her heart.  He looked at me with the most astonished look on his face, and told me that he did not hear the murmur anymore. “Just 2 hours ago I heard it, but now it’s gone” he said.  I began to cry, knowing that it was God that reached his strong and mighty hand into my little angel’s body, and repaired her heart. 

When Emily was finally released from the Hospital in March - she weighed 4lbs 8oz.  She came home on a heart monitor, and strict instruction on how to care for a preemie.  I didn’t sleep for the first week that she was home.  I remember just sitting their holding her, and thinking, “I can’t believe that you are finally home where you belong.” 

At that time, her diet consisted of 2oz of milk every 4 hours, .5ml of vitamins, and a whole lot of love.  She would sleep most of the day and night away, concentrating on growing and getting stronger.  Within weeks she was taking 4oz every feeding, and was awake a lot more.  Our weeks were filled with appointments with specialists, doctors, and nurses from special programs.  Every other day was something new. 

They told us that just changing her diaper or her clothes stressed her out, and it took her a little while to calm down. 

And at 6-months old she weighed 11 ½ lbs. and is 22 ½ in long.  They took her off of the heart monitor this month, and she rolled over for the first time. 

I laugh when I see the looks on people’s faces when they ask me how old my baby is and I tell them almost 6 months.  The typical response is “wow she looks brand new”.  At six months, Emily graduated to 0-3 month clothes, and is the happiest baby you could ever meet.

When I look into the face of my little princess I am reminded every day of how wonderful our Father is.  I see how it was He, not me that created her, gave her life, sustained her, and kept her safe.

2004 Updated

Here is a little update on Emily Mae.  Emily is now 2 ½ years old, and weighs 30 lbs.  She is as healthy as can be.  In the last two years we have gone through our ups and downs, but she has done wonderfully according to her doctors. 

She had spent quite some time in the hospital up until last March, but since then she has been healthy.  The only long-term effect from being Preemie that the doctor is foreseeing is asthma, but we believe God for the strengthening of her lungs, and the total healing from asthma. 

Right now she is a normal 2 ½ year old little girl.  Getting into everything that she can.  Asking the question “huh?” all the time, and discovering everything there is to see in the world.  She loves to sing and clap her hands, and spends her days playing with her young Uncle Miles and Aunt Hunter.  Her favorite thing right now is chasing the kitties all over the house. 

I am so grateful to God for sending her to me, and for giving me the ability to take care of her.  She has taught me so much in the past 2 ½ years, but the most important thing I have learned through all of this with Emily is to have faith in the Lord.  Everything is in His control, not ours.  He went before us, and knew everything I would need to get through these last 2 years and equipped me for the job. 

Emily & Mom 2013

Our beautiful, healthy and wonderful Emily Miracle-Mae