Ty'Aunna and Tatiyanna

by Latoria Chamblee
(Jacksonville, North Carolina)

T'Aunna ant Tatiyanna were born on February 4, 2003 at 31 weeks. I went into labor with them at 29. THE OLDEST, TY'AUNNA CAME IN WEIGHING 3ILBS,4oz AND TATIYANNA WEIGHING 3ILBS,10oz. I REMEMBER BEING EXPOSED TO ABOUT 20 DOCTORS AND NURSES AND INTERNS IN AN OPERATING ROOM.

THEY TOOK SUCH GOOD CARE OF US. MY GIRLS EACH HAD 6 STAFF MEMBERS READY TO TAKE THEM TO THE NICU AFTER THEY WERE BORN. I DIDN'T EVEN WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE I WAS UP AND WALKING, MAKING A BEE-LINE TO THE NICU TO GET A FIRST GLIMPSE OF THEM, I REMEMBER CRYING BC NO ONE WAS SURE IF THEY WOULD MAKE IT--THEY DIDNT EVEN BOTHER TO ORDER SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS FOR THEM.

AND MY MIRACLE BABY--IT TOOK ME THREE DAYS TO NAME HER, TATIYANNA. SHE WOULD FALL ASLEEP IN HER LITTLE BED AND IMMEDIATELY STOP BREATHING. I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM AS DOCTORS WOULD HAVE TO REVIVE HER AT LEAST 4 TIMES AN HOUR. AND TY'AUNNA WAS SOMEWHAT HEALTHY BUT EXTREMELY SMALL--SO CUTE BLOWING LITTLE SPIT BUBBLES FROM HER C-PAP TUBE. I REMEMBER THEM BRINGING ALL OF MY FAMILY CLOSER TOGETHER AS WE HELD THEM IN THE PALM OF OUR HANDS, WITH ALL THE TUBES AND WIRES COMING FROM THEM.