New York (Greater)

While blessed with Jess, I often get frustrated with the 3-step forward 2-step back dance. Jess was born a 24-weeker and at 7 years old still has a g-tube. We've gone 3 months without using it, but she's losing weight and I'm afraid that I don't have good support from our GI. Anyone know of a GI that has experience with preemies? Thanks, Erika

Hi Erika!
First I want to say Welcome to Share! I'm sorry that Jess is having trouble with her weight and that you don't feel like you doctor is supporting you.

I live on Long Island, so I don't know of any doctors in your area. You might want to contact a local NICU to see if they can recommend a GI doctor. I found my son's GI through our NICU and we love him!

If you're close to NYC you might want to make some calls to some NICU's there to see if they can recommend anyone...

I hope you find what you're looking for!
Good luck!
Donna

Babytalk magazine is looking for babies under 6 months of age who were born prematurely to participate in a photo shoot in Manhattan the week of August 21st for possible placement in an upcoming issue. If you're interested, please email a current snapshot of your baby, along with your name, contact information, and the name and birth date of your baby to Nami Ahn, email: nami_ahn@timeinc.com or phone 212-522-6242 for more information. Babytalk is a Time Warner parenting magazine with a circulation of two million.

What if you have a 20 month old that's the *size* of a 6 month old?????
Just kidding....wow..I can't believe that Alex is too old for something

Hello, my name is Irene Sais-Maiello and I work for the March of Dimes in the Staten Island Division of the New York State Chapter.

My husband and I are parents of a two year old boy name Jake. Jake was born at 29 weeks, weighing 2lbs, 12 ozs., while on vacation in Arizona. I had a ruptured membrane at 27 1/2 weeks that caused my water to break as the plane landed in Phoenix. From the airport I was taken to Banner Good Samaritan Hospital (BGSH) in Phoenix. That is were I remained until Jake's birth at 29 weeks by c-section. Jake was immediately transferred to a connecting wing of (BGSH), Phoenix Children's Hospital where he remained in the NICU for 60 days. During this time, we were very fortunate to become friendly with the some of the doctors and nurses at both hospitals along with the Phoenix Fire Department; them being the only people we knew in Arizona. We are also very grateful for all our friends and family who flew from New York to come visit us.

Jake is currently thriving and has overcome most of his prematurity issues, but continues to receive Early Intervention through New York State for Physical and Occupational Therapy. Of course the doctors could not tell us why my membrane ruptured and there is a chance that it can happen again. That is why the research that the March of Dimes supports is so important.

As I was searching through the Share site I noticed that there were not a lot of Staten Islanders who were currently posting. 1 in 12 babies on Staten Island are born prematurely; before 37 weeks of gestation, I know you are out there. “Share Your Story” with us and invite other islanders who have had similar experiences.

On Sunday, April 29th, 2007, WalkAmerica will be taking place on Staten Island and we can use your support whether it means volunteering, walking, and/or forming a Family Team, or by sponsoring a walker. For those who are hesitant to walk because of the distance, please note that length of the Walk has been shortened from 10 miles to 5 miles.

Staten Island is a small island where everybody knows somebody who has been affected by a premature birth, so help us get the word out.

Should you wish to volunteer or need information regarding WalkAmerica, please do not hesitate to contact me at (718) 981-3000.

I look forward to hearing from you!!

Irene

I work in the Westchester Rockland Division Office in Tarrytown, New York and would like to welcome any and all families to join us at WalkAmerica this year, Sunday, April 29th. We have two walks in the area; at Blue Hill Plaza, Pearl River and Saxon Woods Pool, White Plains.
Please come join in the festivities and be a part of our Family Team. We have a Family Team Tent for each site, which is an informational and gathering point. You can start a team today at walkamerica.org, check out our sites and invite your friends and families to join your team. I can be reached at 914.407.5003 if you have any further questions.
I hope you will be a part of our Big day!
Thank you!

Hi Irene.... I cant believe a fellow Staten Islander.....I havent met anyone else from SI on this site. I'll be at the walk. Hopefully I'll meet you there. Our family team name is *Team Madison* Our lil peanut. See you there.

Hello,

It's so good to see that there is another Staten Islander that posts on this site. We are late on getting out our Family Kick-Off invitations, but I'm going to be sending yours out in the mail tomorrow. I hope that you will be able to attend, it's on the 31st of March. I would love to meet you if not at the Rally, at Walk.

Sincerly,
Irene

I received my invite. I'll see you there.

Irene I would just like to say we had a great time at the kick off and thank you very much for the invitation. It was nice to meet other families to talk to with similiar issues.
I will see you at the walk.

Hi everyone,

I'm still trying to learn my way around this site but thought it would be nice to check out what was happening locally. I'm from NHP (western nassau county). I delivered Sophia by c-section at Winthrop Univeristy Hospital at 32 weeks. She was just 3lb, 12oz. Thankfully, she only had to spend 3 weeks in the NICU and has no effects of prematurity. She's a healthy 27 month old now.

Any more LIers out there?

Hello, my name is Irene Sais-Maiello and I work for the March of Dimes in the Staten Island Division of the New York State Chapter.

My husband and I are parents of a two year old boy name Jake. Jake was born at 29 weeks, weighing 2lbs, 12 ozs., while on vacation in Arizona. I had a ruptured membrane at 27 1/2 weeks that caused my water to break as the plane landed in Phoenix. From the airport I was taken to Banner Good Samaritan Hospital (BGSH) in Phoenix. That is were I remained until Jake's birth at 29 weeks by c-section. Jake was immediately transferred to a connecting wing of (BGSH), Phoenix Children's Hospital where he remained in the NICU for 60 days. During this time, we were very fortunate to become friendly with the some of the doctors and nurses at both hospitals along with the Phoenix Fire Department; them being the only people we knew in Arizona. We are also very grateful for all our friends and family who flew from New York to come visit us.

Jake is currently thriving and has overcome most of his prematurity issues, but continues to receive Early Intervention through New York State for Physical and Occupational Therapy. Of course the doctors could not tell us why my membrane ruptured and there is a chance that it can happen again. That is why the research that the March of Dimes supports is so important.

As I was searching through the Share site I noticed that there were not a lot of Staten Islanders who were currently posting. 1 in 12 babies on Staten Island are born prematurely; before 37 weeks of gestation, I know you are out there. “Share Your Story” with us and invite other islanders who have had similar experiences.

On Sunday, April 29th, 2007, WalkAmerica will be taking place on Staten Island and we can use your support whether it means volunteering, walking, and/or forming a Family Team, or by sponsoring a walker. For those who are hesitant to walk because of the distance, please note that length of the Walk has been shortened from 10 miles to 5 miles.

Staten Island is a small island where everybody knows somebody who has been affected by a premature birth, so help us get the word out.

Should you wish to volunteer or need information regarding WalkAmerica, please do not hesitate to contact me at (718) 981-3000.

I look forward to hearing from you!!

Irene

Hi There!!!
Welcome to Share!!! Glad to hear that Sophia is doing well! I'm from Babylon and had my son Alex at 28 weeks gestation at Good Sam in West Islip.
We're trying to start a local parent support group - email me if you're interested
Donna

Hi! It's good to know that Sophia is doing great. My MISTER was born at Mt.Sinai in manhattan and they were wonderful. Mister is doing as good as expected considering his ailments. Mister is small for his age with a few developmental delays but he is a happy 6 month old and thats all I can ask for. Just continue to be Sophia's biggest fan and she will blossom into such a beautiful flower. I don't care what doctors tell me Mister won't be able to do I know with a lot of TLC he will do all that and more cuz I have faith that my child will prosper and yours will too.