It was almost 17 years ago this Thanksgiving. I was pregnant 27 weeks along with my first child. I ended up that holiday weekend deathly ill-horrible headache that wouldn't go away. In bed all weekend, I thought I had the flu. That Monday I called my OB, and they suggested I come in. My best friend drove me, as my husband had gone into work. The nurse had me pee in a cup-and all of a sudden, with a flurry, I'm being whisked to the hospital. I had pre-eclampsyia. Very high blood pressure and I was put in the labor and delivery area-as they weren't sure I would make it. I spent the next 4 days there-bed ridden. They got the steriod into me to develop my tiny baby's lungs not sure how long I would last before they would have to take him. I lasted until Thursday night-my liver enzymes were high, blood pressure high again and they made decision to do a c section the next morning. December 1, 2000 my little boy came into this world at 27 weeks and 6 days. He weighed in at 2 lbs. 1oz and was 12 1/2 inches long. He was only on a c pap for 24 hours and then thank God only had to grow. As we approach his 17th birthday-I think of those days I spent in the NICU with him-it's almost like it was yesterday. He is my miracle baby-he is 6 foot and an avid cross country runner. You wouldn't know that he came into this world so early and so tiny. What the NICU nurses and doctors do on a day to day basis truly amazes me. He is my miracle, and I will never forget what we endured to bring him home. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families that are posting here-I truly understand what you are going through.