Tiny Premature Baby Becomes NICU Nurse At The Hospital Where She Was Born 34 Years Earlier

Apr 04, 2019 by apost team

Thirty-four years ago, a baby was born 16 weeks early at McLane Children’s Medical Center Baylor Scott & White. She weighed just 1.4 lbs.

Her mother was told this tiny baby girl only had a five to ten percent chance of survival, but she beat the odds.

At the time, this made her the smallest baby born in Texas to ever survive.

The baby grew up to be a nurse and respiratory therapist. Today, she works in the same NICU where she spent the first 14 weeks of her life, struggling to survive. Her name is Tammy Lewis.

Tammy considers it her calling to care for children "like her" -- children who come into this world too early. These are children who need special care, sometimes for many weeks.

apost.com

When Tammy first began working at McLane Children’s Medical Center Baylor Scott & White, some of the people that had cared for her when she was born at that very same hospital were still working there.

So she was actually able to work alongside some of the very people that had helped her survive and thrive when she first came into this world so very many weeks before her due date.

Babies like Tammy once was aren't simply premature. They are extremely premature, and it is a whole other ball game from what most preemies go through.

Extremely premature babies have underdeveloped lungs, a life-threatening situation. Making sure they get enough oxygen is one of the most critical aspects of making sure they survive and thrive so they can eventually go home with their parents.

Tammy knew from an early stage that this was what she wanted to do for her life's work.

It is why she became not just a nurse, but also a respiratory therapist.

These babies get called micro-preemies due to their tiny size. Such an early birth is one of the most stressful birth situations a parent can experience.

Most parents are simply terrified of what lies ahead of them.

Sometimes Tammy's greatest value is not in the tremendous empathy she has for these babies, nor even in her nursing skills. It is in her role as a beacon of hope for the scared parents.

Tammy is living proof that such small babies can not only survive, but also thrive. They can go on to live full, productive and happy lives.

Watch Tammy's inspiring story in the video below:

What do you think about Tammy's life story? Do you have a personal story that encouraged you to do the job you do today? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to spread this inspiring story by showing it to your loved ones.