Mother’s Journey: How a Premature Baby Defied the Odds

In a harrowing experience that began on March 15, 2021, Lauren Helstrom’s life changed forever when her daughter, Evee, was born prematurely at just 23 weeks gestation. Weighing a mere 561 grams, Evee’s survival was uncertain from the moment she entered the world. Helstrom, who resides in Saskatoon, faced an emotional battle as medical staff worked tirelessly to save her newborn.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Helstrom felt an overwhelming sense of danger. Rushed through double doors on a stretcher, she was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. “I was supposed to say goodbye,” she recalled. A labor and delivery nurse, kneeling beside her, provided comfort in a moment of despair, whispering, “I’m not leaving you.”

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) became a foreign and daunting landscape for Helstrom. Evee was placed in a glass incubator, surrounded by machines that emitted unfamiliar sounds. Helstrom described the scene as overwhelming, calling it a “sacred” yet “unforgiving” environment. She struggled with the reality of not being able to hold or feed her baby, questioning her identity as a mother. “I felt like a ghost of a mother. Invisible. Useless. Failing,” she said.

Evee’s battle for survival was fraught with challenges. Over the course of 130 days in the NICU, she faced multiple medical issues, including retinopathy of prematurity, chronic lung disease, and a grade 4 brain bleed. Despite the difficulties, Helstrom found solace in the small moments that made her feel like a mother, such as when Evee grasped her finger or when a nurse acknowledged the bond they shared.

Even after Evee was discharged, the journey was far from over. Helstrom emphasized the ongoing complexities of care that included regular medical check-ups. “Evee was a little slower to walk and talk than other children,” Helstrom noted, “but she is now a bubbly and happy three-year-old.”

The emotional aftermath of their NICU experience left lasting scars. Helstrom highlights that post-traumatic stress after such intense medical situations is not uncommon. “The wounds don’t close just because you’ve been discharged,” she explained. Yet, over time, she and Evee emerged from the shadows of their ordeal.

Today, Evee is vibrant and full of life, dancing barefoot in the kitchen and singing with joy. “I became a mother in a room where I once felt I had to say goodbye,” Helstrom reflected. Her journey illustrates the resilience of both mother and child, highlighting the power of hope and the importance of support during challenging times.

Helstrom’s story serves as a testament to the strength of parental love in the face of adversity. It underscores the critical role that medical staff play in such life-threatening situations and the profound emotional journey that accompanies the birth of a premature child.