Guest Post: Celebrate Preemie Power

Celebrate Preemie Power Sunday, November 13th

Did you know that November is Prematurity Awareness Month? Well, preemies or no preemies, you can still celebrate and show your support!

This Sunday, November 13, local organization Hand to Hold hosts the second annual Preemie Power Family Celebration and regionwide NICU reunion. The event will be held in the gymnasium of the Coventant Presbyterian Church, 3003 Northland Drive, from 1-3pm. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend, and it’s completely free!

At the superhero themed event, families can enjoy a cupcake walk, bounce houses, dance parties, crafts, games, and strike a pose in the superhero photo booth. There’s even scheduled appearances by Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine Gang and local celebrity H-E-Buddy! Fun activities, free refreshments, and celebrities? Yes, please!

During the month of October, parents were encouraged to enter photos and/or essays featuring their tiny superheroes into the Preemie Power Photo and Essay Contest. Richard Hammett, preemie dad and COO of St. David’s Medical Center will announce the winners of the contest and present them with their prize packages, which include donations from Baby Blanket Music, Kokopax, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, and more. Voting has ended, but you can still view the photos and read the amazing stories.

Whether you’re a preemie parent or not, Hand to Hold invites you to come have some free fun and help celebrate all of the preemie superheroes out there who have encountered tremendous odds and continue to inspire on a day to day basis.

About Hand to Hold

Hand to Hold is a local non profit that provides support for parents of premature babies, parents of babies born with special needs, or those who have suffered a loss due to these or other complications. Hand to Hold’s network of families strives to support one another in the form of knowledge, resources, and information. For more information, visit handtohold.org.

Leigh Ann Torres is a freelance writer living in Austin, TX. She blogs at Genie in a Blog, where she documents the sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, but always real deal of life with twins plus one. Her now 3.5 year old twins were born 9 weeks early and continue to grow happy and healthy, thanks to the dedication and support of friends, family, and amazing doctors and NICU nurses.

Image credit: handtohold.org