Announcing our New Quad Cities Chapter!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new TPP chapter! Trisha Poole, has accepted the position of Quad Cities Director. We are so excited to have her on our team. The QC Chapter will be supporting Genesis Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Davenport, IA.
Trisha’s TPP Story
We are excited for you to get to know Trisha Poole, QC Chapter Director. Here is her story…
In March 2010 we had a 1 lb 15 oz miracle baby enter the world 12 weeks early due to Pre-eclampsia and HELLPS. It had been a very rough pregnancy and it was a very difficult time for our family. The doctors had originally put me in the hospital in Davenport but then transferred me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The doctors at the UIHC hoped that strict bed rest and remaining in the hospital for 10 weeks would keep me stable enough to deliver at 37 weeks, but my body had different plans Four days later we faced a life and death decision for me and my unborn child. The only way they could TRY to save one or both of our lives was to deliver immediately.
Prematurity and delivery had not really been discussed up to that point because there hadn’t been any signs of needing to deliver. We didn’t know what to expect and I remained out of it for the next day or so. This left my husband facing the scary NICU admittance all by himself. I don’t remember anything from the first day, which is when my husband says we named our daughter, so I say HE named her. Once I was able to go see our daughter I didn’t know if she could even survive since she was so small. We had never heard of a baby being born so little.

As the first week went along and I began to feel more comfortable talking to the doctors and I started to learn how to bond with our baby. When babies are that little and sick you are only able to place your hands on them. We were not able to hold her for the first time until after she was two weeks old (when they did brain ultrasounds to check for brain bleeds). Unfortunately, in the NICU, holding your baby is not something you get to do every day. So, we made sure we kept the little blankets we first held her with because that was a HUGE milestone for us.

Permalink (0) Comments
Posted in: General Blogging :: Michigan Chapter :: Volunteer Opportunities
