I found out I was pregnant in my 4th week and scheduled an appointment with an OB to confirm. Shortly after confirmation, I began battling with severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I was hospitalized numerous times for dehydration and received Zofran pump therapy and eventually a PICC Line was placed to administer Zofran and IV fluids from home. Around the 18th week of pregnancy, the HG was starting to lessen but my blood pressure began to gradually rise. My concerns were dismissed by my original OB group for weeks despite other signs of preeclampsia so I decided to seek a second opinion upon which I was hospitalized immediately and told they would delay delivery as long as possible. I was given two rounds of steroids and had to deliver two days later via C-section due to preeclampsia. Holland was born at 25 weeks at 1 pound 6 ounces and remained in the NICU for 3 months. After we brought Holland home from the NICU she began having trouble feeding. She began vomiting feeds which led to reflux medication, specialized formula, and feeding evaluations. She continued to vomit her feeds and would later refuse her feeds until she was eventually hospitalized at 13 months old for failure to thrive. She had an NG tube for a short time but symptoms worsened and about a month later she was re-hospitalized which resulted in a G-tube placement. After little improvement about a month later she was hospitalized again to begin stomach motility medications for suspected delayed emptying and a continuous feed schedule at a low rate. Since then she has been able to gain weight and strength and vomit less. She attends feeding therapy once per week but continues to struggle with oral aversion and feeding by mouth. She also attends physical therapy once a week as well. She is followed by the Child Development Center thru TEIS as well once a week. We are so grateful for all those who have come before us and faced prematurity and the advocacy that led to the funding and research that eventually led to the medical care that was able to get Holland to where she is now. We are happy to be a voice of understanding for other families and advocates to promote further funding for continuing research to help premature babies. - Ambassador Mom, Megan Allen Townes