Key Points
I was born premature in June 1995, three months earlier than my due date.The survival rate for being born at 24 weeks was 40% in the 1990s and is now up to over 73%.I spent 105 days in the NICU and died three times..
Born in the San Bernardino County hospital, I was on life support and round-the-clock care for 105 days after my arrival, where I lived in the neonatal intensive care unit...
Preemies are also more likely to suffer lifelong effects from their birth, such as cerebral palsy, mental disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, and poor health and growth..
Even babies born only a few weeks early often have long-term difficulties such as behavioral, social-emotional problems and learning difficulties...
According to various studies, when you're born before full-term, normal brain development is interrupted during a period of rapid growth and may increase lifelong susceptibility to psychiatric disorders..
