Kimi Sisskind

At 25 weeks pregnant, I began to swell—my legs looked like tree trunks, my watch no longer fit, and I felt exhausted. I was told swelling could be “normal” in pregnancy.

By week 26, the swelling had worsened. My legs tingled, my shoes didn’t fit, and even walking on the treadmill left me short of breath. My body felt completely drained.

At week 27, on Monday, March 16th, I went to the doctor. My blood pressure was slightly elevated, and I was told to complete a 24‑hour urine collection that Sunday and bring it to the lab on Monday, along with a blood test.

But on Saturday night, everything changed. I was in intense pain, like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I assumed it was indigestion and didn’t want to complain, so I took Tums and tried to sleep. I couldn’t lie down and ended up sitting in a chair all night. Our dog Molly stayed glued to my side.

On Sunday, I was extremely lethargic and slept most of the day. I had a terrible headache and could barely stay awake at dinner. When I checked my blood pressure, it was 170/90. Josh checked his—120/80—and immediately called his sister, a pediatrician. She told him to take me to the hospital right away. My doctor said the same and told me I would be admitted to triage as soon as I arrived.

At the hospital, I was taken straight to triage. I was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. My headache worsened, spreading down my neck, and my blood pressure climbed to 200/95. I was given magnesium, Percocet, and medication to help the baby’s lungs develop. I was barely conscious and sent Josh home around midnight to take care of Molly.

At 3 a.m., Dr. Smith checked on me and the baby. She had me call Josh, but I couldn’t even hold the phone. She told him he needed to come back early in the morning—we would be having a baby that week.

At 8 a.m., a team of doctors and nurses filled the room. During an ultrasound, the technician quietly called for the perinatologist, Dr. Shah. He discovered that the baby’s liver was congested with blood and said she needed to be delivered immediately. I was prepped for an emergency C‑section.

Ava was born at 12:49 p.m., at 27 weeks + 6 days, weighing 1 lb 11 oz and measuring 12.5 inches—about the size of a Subway sandwich. She was quickly taken to the NICU.

Our lives changed in an instant. Josh was able to see her that day through the incubator and FaceTimed me so I could see her too. I didn’t get to touch her until days later.

During Ava’s first week, we could only touch her tiny fingers through the incubator. The following week, I finally held her skin‑to‑skin for the first time. For the first month, we were allowed to hold her only one hour a day. She needed a CPAP machine to breathe and had a feeding tube. On Mother’s Day, I fed her a bottle through the incubator for the first time.

For 88 days, we lived through the stress and uncertainty of the NICU—the alarms, the apnea episodes, the constant updates, the limited holding time, the fear of infection, and the daily trips to the hospital. Every gram she gained was a victory. Every step forward—moving to an open crib, taking a few sips from a bottle, breathing room air—was a celebration.

We were incredibly fortunate to have a compassionate team of NICU doctors and nurses who supported us, taught us how to care for a medically fragile preemie, and guided us through every step.

The March of Dimes was also a tremendous support. They provided preemie clothes, programs, and comfort during the hardest moments of Ava’s stay.

Today, babies in the NICU still need all the help they can get. Premature birth affects about 380,000 babies each year in the United States. Ava is living proof of the extraordinary work NICU teams do every day. She is now a happy, healthy 11‑year‑old thanks to exceptional medical care and ongoing research in prematurity.

Since 2016, we have raised $9,464 for the March of Dimes. Please consider donating to help us reach this year’s goal. Together, we can help more babies get the strongest start possible.