Jamie's Story; a letter from her parents

Dear Friend,

Every time we look at our Jamie Anne, we’re reminded that miracles really do happen. A curious, brown-eyed beauty with killer eyelashes, Jamie just started walking and enjoys wrestling her older brother, Nikolas. It hardly seems possible that, a little over a year ago, the same little girl was born at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong three-and-a-half months premature, weighing just under one-and-a-half pounds—so tiny that she could wear my husband’s wedding ring as an anklet, with room to spare! 

While we can joke now, saying that she, an energetic, inquisitive toddler, was simply too eager to come out and explore, the experience was nothing to make light of.  When my water broke at 23-and-a-half weeks, we were scared. We knew that most children born that early have a long road ahead of them. Jamie’s would bring an extended stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, along with a battery of blood transfusions and special interventions, like nasal canyons and tubes, just to help her breathe and eat. 

As realists, we wanted to know what Jamie’s chances were. Would our little girl be healthy? Would her development be on target later on in life?  We knew that there are some things that cannot be fixed, regardless of a doctor’s skill, and that our job, as parents, simply was to hold her, love her and hope. Knowing this, the doctors, gave us the straight answers we were seeking, taking time to explain the medical-speak in understandable language.  That way, when we, as parents, felt helpless, we were still kept informed; this made things somewhat easier.

We waited anxiously as little Jamie kept fighting to grow bigger and stronger. In February, after an 87-day roller coaster ride of ups and downs, we received the news we’d hoped for: she finally was stable enough to head home!

We can not say enough about the team at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. They cared for us, as a family, from start to finish. The social workers helped us decide how to explain the situation to our 4-year-old son; the NICU staff showed us how to take Jamie’s temperature, change her itty-bitty diapers, and find ways to bond with our then very little girl; one nurse practitioner, Patrick Hopkins, has become so special to us that he joined us for Jamie’s first birthday party. 

But beyond the warm, sensitive attention, we were grateful that Jamie was in such capable hands. The NICU, we learned, serves as the Regional Perinatal Center for the entire Finger Lakes region and has the highest rating in state designation. We were also surprised to hear that the artificial surfactant helped save Jamie’s life, allowing her not-yet-matured lungs to absorb oxygen, was first pioneered by a team of Golisano Children’s Hospital researchers back in the ‘80s. By the ‘90s, it was saving babies nationwide!

Now, when we watch Jamie and Nikolas romping around, wrestling, we can’t help but smile and wipe away a tear—because it reminds us that it was not only our spirited Jamie who learned to persevere during her time in the hospital.  We, as a family, all learned to fight and hope for the life and love that matter most. 

We will always be looking for new ways to express our appreciation for this truly miraculous place, Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong—one we never expected to need, but now, are so thankful for. We would be pleased if you could help us in giving back, too.

Sincerely,

Tricia and Chad White

Brockport, NY

PS: Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong is our region’s only children’s hospital. Your gift will help to give little ones, like Jamie, the chance to grow up strong – even if they are a little eager to get started!

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