Cailyn turns FIVE

 Cailyn was born 100 days early on Sept 10th 2007.
There were many days in the first few weeks and months when only her fighting spirit kept her with us.
She came and changed our lives. Through her determination and strength we see life in a new light.
Her hugs are priceless, her smile lights up each day.
She is a living miracle and we are blessed to be a part of her life.
Today we celebrate with her. Five amazing years. Delightful days, though we never forget the journey this little girl has taken. Knowing where she has come from makes the joy she experiences even more precious.

Growing up, beautiful smile

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAILYN.
I hope you have a had a glorious day today.
You are a Joy.
Enjoy being Five years old.
It is a fun time of life.

Cailyn at a few days old, holding Mummy's hand.

Saving Lives one Child at a time...

 When Cailyn, (our precious little granddaughter born 100 days

Smiling for the camera.

early), was very ill in July 2008 ( ten months old, seven corrected) she needed to be transferred to John Hunter Hospital, 500 miles away.

Telstra Child Flight came to the rescue.

Here she is trying to smile for the camera, despite being
desperately ill.

Her veins were is such poor condition from her time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) she needed to have a drip in her head. She also needed oxygen and even with that we often had to hold a mask over her face to give her more. She had tubes and drips and monitors and yet she tried to smile for the camera.

Lots of equipment to keep her safe and well.

 The team from Telstra Child Flight came and loaded
Cailyn and all the equipment needed for the flight onto
a trolley. She looked so tiny and unwell, our hearts were in a dreadful state as we watched the doctors and nurses prepare to take her away.

We knew though that her only chance was to be where the specialist equipment and doctors were. She needed more than the team at Coffs Health Campus could provide.

Daddy says good bye, for now.

The Telstra Child Flight Helicopter.

 It was hard to say good bye. Dad would drive down, while Mummy flew with Cailyn in the helicopter.

Cailyn was never without Mummy by her side.










While there are several helicopter patient retrieval services in Australia, Telstra Child Flight is just for kids. They operate in New South Wales and ACT. Each flight changes the lives of those involved forever. The care and dedication the team delivers is beyond compare.

They save lives, one child at a time. Each child is precious.



All the equipment is loaded and great care taken to ensure Cailyn will travel safely.














 Cailyn wears her ear muffs! She carries a Child Flight Pelican, given to each child who travels with the Child Flight team.


This was an amazing time of our lives.
Cailyn spent a week or more in Newcastle before coming home.
There were more visits to hospital, but thank goodness, she hasn't needed the wonderful team from the Telstra Child Flight helicopter again.

We see the Westpac helicopter, the Telstra Child Flight and the NRMA Care Flight helicopter fly overhead at times. Each time we hear those chopper wings our hearts go out to those who are experiencing the dread and desperate hope for their loved ones.




We are lucky. Cailyn is thriving. She turned Five the other day.
Still, every hug is precious. We remember the days when our heart threatened to break.
I guess I want to say THANK YOU to all those who dedicate their time to saving lives. One day, one child at a time.
We don't forget.
Thanks to COFFS HARBOUR LIONS CLUB, who are donating $1000 to Telstra Child Flight helicopter service.
A small club, just a few valuable, hard working members with HUGE hearts. Thank you!!
You make the world a better place.

Wearing green for little Aussie Prems day... 6th April

Wear GREEN for Premmies....

My darling grand daughter was born 100 days early. Weighed 808gms. Went through so much to survive. A true miracle.
Now she is three and a half and growing into an amazing little girl. Still every day is a miracle.
Her hugs are the most precious. Her smiles illuminate my life. She may never know how much she means to her grandmother, but she is the light of my life.
Today I will be wearing green to remember the prems we have known. Celebrating the lives of those who survived the trauma of the NICU, grieving with the families of those who didn't make it.
They say the little ones don't remember...
Our little one talks about people visiting her little house... when she was in hospital. She says she was very little when she was in hospital and her tummy hurt all day. She's seen the photos...

There was a day, when she was visiting the hospital for her 12mth check up when she MET another prem from across the aisle in the NICU.
Now.. these tiny ones had never MET.. only shared the same ward. Yet the both reacted in an astonishing fashion. Tiny babies who wanted to hold each other, smiled, shook with excitement. Ignored mothers and all esle for the time they held each other.
These children are miracles.
The people who care for them are heroes.
The experience has changed my life.

My precious little one has grown into an amazing three and a half year old sweetheart. She is precious and cheeky, she is bright and loving and can be naughty. Totally spoilt by all who know her. What can we do. Everyday with her is special. The way she looks at life, bears pain stoically, loves deeply and brings joy into our lives, must be exhausting. Some days she crashes, might sleep for seventeen hours. We know she is fragile, delicate and every moment with her is priceless.
The love, the faith the strength...
it is all overwhelming
So... I wear green today and applaud
all those who are raising awareness of
the miracles among us.

EARLY PHOTOS of our Miracle baby girl

CJ at three...

Three years old now CJ, born 100 days early is now a bright and amazing little girl. She will be 3yrs corrected in Dec. Still six weeks away.
Yesterday she was telling me, Grandma, about a dream she had of when Grandpa and I took her to the park. She even described the beanie that Grandpa wore. The park visit was a few months ago.
She also had a serious conversation the other day about not kicking her little brother. You aren't allowed to kick people, Grandma.
No.
You are allowed to kick balls though.
Yes.
What about eyeballs?

LOL.
I love being a grandmother.

Three years later...

My darling grand daughter has now turned three. She is truly amazing. She won't actually be three years old corrected till Dec 19th. Already she is reading some words, can recognise all the alphabet and use each letter in a word, counts and can tell people where she lives, dial a phone number and read the time if it shows an hour.
Her grosse motor skills are developing well.
Besides that she is the most wonderful little girl. Such a sweetheart, loving and brave.
Although she has conquered several bouts of illness she never complains. The dr's are amazed that she can be so bright and smiling while being unwell. That's the spirit she has.
It is always a wonder to greet her smiling face. Everyday we give thanks for the miracle of her life.
Being a grandmother to a premmie has changed my life for the better.

One year later...

It was a year ago that our dear little grand daughter arrived 100 days early. Looking back the last twelve months have been the longest of our lives. Even so, some days they seem to have flown by. The roller coaster ride has taken us to the depths of grief and to highs of joy.

CJ arrived after three weeks of trying to swim without 'water in her pool'. When her mum's waters broke at 23 weeks gestation, the dreadful risks of losing CJ were suddenly upon us. Pregnancy never seemed so fragile or dangerous a condition. From those first weeks of tension and stress we learned about how often unborn babies just don't make it.

Back in my day.. (I am not saying how long ago that was) we just had babies. Rarely did we hear of anyone losing a baby. Now I wonder if it was lack of communication, some taboo about taking about loss, or perhaps our environment and general health were better. Who knows?

All I know is that from week 23 as a grandmother in waiting, I became intensely interested in pregnancy and the problems young mothers and would be mothers face now.

With a history of CFS and endometriosis it was a blessing that my daughter fell pregnant so readily. Her chances would lessen with each passing month. Even though she is not yet 30, the extent of the endo threatens. There's another puzzle. Why are so many young women experiencing the horrors of Endo. Losing the ability to bear children is devastating, but the pain and discomfort only add to their suffering. And it doesn't go away. There is no NON radical treatment. It's just a tragic situation that too many women are now facing.

Anyhow..
CJ...arrived 100 days early. 25 weeks and 5 days. 808gms (1 lb 11 oz)
This blog is a celebration of her story. She has celebrated her first birthday. Yesterday she celebrated turning 9mths old (corrected) nine days later. For anyone who faces the heartache of welcoming such a precious bundle into the world. I hope the words of this blog can help you through the dark days.