Jermaine Hankerson

Today in the U.S., 1 in every 8 babies will be born prematurely. Some of them won't survive, and others will have health problems that could last a lifetime. The funds we raise in WalkAmerica support research that saves babies' lives. My son was born 3 months early weighing 2.4lbs. When my wife first entered the hospital, the only thing the doctors would say to us, was encouraging us to abort the pregnancy. They were constantly reminding us of the window of leagally terminating the pregnancy. We were so frustrated with the lack of positivity. We thought, if there was a chance, let's go at it. As soon as we said a positive, the doctor would counteract with a negative. He wanted us to sign a DNR. We said, why would we want you not try to save our baby. My son eventually came 3 weeks after the gloomy forecast given by his doctors. When he was delivered, he was very small, though not as small as most would think, but small nontheless. We were unable to hold him for obvious reasons. They had to rush him to his incubator, needed to get him back to familiar surroundings as much as possible I guess. It was extremely hard watching your son with wires entering every possible place they could. It would make the strongest man cry. It makes you feel helpless. I have always been a person who tried to help others. Now it's time to help my first born, and now my hands are tied. It's out of my hand. This caused me a lot of pain. Then I realized if it's not in my hands.....it's in GOD's Hands. With that understanding, my frustration went away. Weeks after his birth, he was transferred to All Childrens in St. Pete, so the long treks from Riverview to Fletcher, were now Treks to St. Pete. Daily trips across the skyway. Jay is doing as well as can be. There are some expected issues, developmental and physical, but we are working through them, with therapy and hard work. Eventually, he will get to where he needs to be. Let's help more babies come home healthy.