Kaleigh at Age 11

Caroline - posted on 07/04/2012

How wonderful! She is so gorgeous

My daughter was born 9 weeks premmie, weighed 3 pounds & 11 ounces, she had many challenges. She was not able to walk un-assisted, she needed support to sit up, drooled constantly, developmentally delayed, frequent body tremors, some seizure like episodes, kind of in a daze all the time, clenched left hand, choking on her food, speach problems, left side weakness etc. She was elevated on her toes when holding her to walk, she was splinted for a leg brace & they wanted to give her botox, but after researching botox and discovering how it’s made and there were no long term studies I decided against it. Her life was restricted & so was mine ...and it looked this way for the rest of her life ... & mine. I felt hopeless.

We were attending all sorts of treatments and therapies which cost a lot. A friend told me about some special wellness supplements from a particular company, she started taking them in her yogurt, after one week she was up walking un-assisted, it made an immense difference to her brain function, memory, balance, mood & cognition in a short space of time. I was elated!

I am so grateful to the person that told me about this incredible technology. She now has a life now ….. and so do I. It’s now over 14 yrs later and she continues to take these special nutrients, she has attended normal public schools, she is almost 16, in a few weeks she begins driving lessons and has just started an after school casual job in a fast paced food takeaway.
http://www.navig8.biz/LifeStyle2

Marshellia - posted on 02/27/2010

your daughter is beautiful. And very smart! You are blessed.

Selma - posted on 02/25/2010

Congratulation...And yes God is an awsome God, And all things through him is/are possible. I delivered preemies two times. A son who was 2lb 4zo, August he will be 30 yrs old, an my daughter was 2lb 7oz, January 2 she turned 26. At the time in Colorado they had breathing problem. As grown ups they have had no breathing issues. He was a very good football player all of his growing up years. And i thank God they had no disabilities. Now they both have families of their own. And the doctors also told me that they would have learning problems. To the mom's all over the world who have had preemies we know that God has the final word to say how we will turn out...An thank you God for the little baby blessings he gave us..

Jamie - posted on 02/22/2010

Stunning! She's such a wonderful blessing. Thanks for sharing her with us.

Rena - posted on 02/21/2010

Super inspiring...wonderful, amazing young lady! Thank you for sharing your story.
What a huge encouragement to those mama's who are nursing their preemies. ♥
WTG, Kaleigh!

Alma - posted on 02/21/2010

What an awesome child you have. congrats on all acheivment.. that just goes to show u that doctors are not gods. they are gods tools that he uses to take care of his children. God always has the last word....

Autumn - posted on 02/21/2010

amazing! this story gives me the chills. have a blessed day.

Shoshanna - posted on 02/20/2010

what do docs know.your daughter is truly a blessing.masy she succeed in all her endeavors,and continue to shine brightly
:)

Mojdeh - posted on 02/20/2010

on top of it she is beautiful too. so happy for her and your family. good Luck Kaleigh

Mary - posted on 02/20/2010

you are truly blessed ,i am very happy for you,she is very smart and very beautiful .

Jenny - posted on 02/19/2010

She is so beautiful!

Laurie - posted on 02/19/2010

Congratulations, a true miracle baby. She's gorgeous, seriously she looks like the next Miss. America. I'm so happy for your family, and for Kaleigh.

Carole - posted on 02/16/2010

I am so proud of you faith is evreything she is such a pretty girl she is lucky to have parent's like you

Jacqueline - posted on 02/15/2010

that is absolutely amazing

Heather - posted on 01/28/2010

My daughter was a preemy too. Her liver was not functioning. They told us she would not have a learning capacity past age 11 . She is 13, in the gifted program, and received the honors from Duke as well. I am so happy for you and your family.

Susanna - posted on 01/27/2010

Congratulations on being a great mum and never giving up.... You must be so Proud!!

Gail - posted on 01/27/2010

that is so wonderful!!

Robbie - posted on 01/05/2010

Praise God! Your faith and love was more than substancial enough. God was holding your dreams, hope, strength and everything together to show all involved that He is God and He does work miracles. Kaliegh, God blessed you with awesome parents and blessed them with their own miracle....YOU! Congratulations on all of the accolades and walls that she will continue to walk through in the name of God.

Danielle - posted on 12/18/2009

thats wonderful! and she is beautiful! Congratulations =)

Sandra - posted on 11/08/2009

God is so good!!!!!! You are truly blessed good for you for not giving up on God... Look at your beautiful daughter now... Praise God for Kaleigh...may god continue to bless you and your family.
Sandra :)

Lauren - posted on 11/02/2009

its stories like this that i love. such a lovely story :-D

Olufunmilola - posted on 11/02/2009

This goes to show that when Jesus says YES nobody can say no. The doctor's verdict is not final where you have faith in a Living God. He is able more than able.

I am glad you had faith and you held on strong. You aint seen nothing yet, this is just the beginning of your success. God will continue to see you through and Kaleigh too.

Angela - posted on 11/01/2009

It never ceases to amaze me the mountains kids climb without even giving them a second thought. Yet when we get older the smallest obstacles send fear and panic into our hearts and minds. I work hard to raise Kaleigh to believe that there is no mountain you can't climb one step at a time. :)
Congratulations on your twins. I saw so many babies come and go through the NICU while Kaleigh was there. And to hear how others have overcome the challenges placed in their path always renews my faith that anything is possible if we just keep that faith alive and give it all we've got...each and every day!! You must be SO proud of all that your son and daughter accomplish, and they are blessed to have a Mom who believed in them and raised them to be the strong young adults they are growing into!
Angie

Denise - posted on 11/01/2009

I have a set of twins that are now 15 they were born at 27 weeks weighing 2.6 and 3.6 pounds. He is now 5'9" and 118 pounds and in the 9th grade. Diagnosed with Atypical autistic disorder he didn't potty train until he was 7 and didn't walk until he was almost 3. He still has "issues" but is in normal classes and in the 9th grade and made 6 "A"'s and 1 B on this report card. She is 5"4" and weighs about 138 pounds. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and stayed in braces until she was almost 5..Now she is in Honors classes in the 9th grade and even participated on the swim team for her high school this year. She has been an honor roll student since she was in the 1st grade and perfect attendance. . Congratulations on your little one and keep her interested in education and life. Denise

Angela - posted on 11/01/2009

I send a photo copy of her test scores, report cards and school picture to the head of the NICU every year along with her record from her birth. This year I sent her acceptance letter from both Universities.

I really do understand that Doctors have to prepare us for the worst case scenario. But I'm so blessed that my family and friends never let our hope and faith slip at all. As they ran around scrambling to find preemie clothes tiny enough, or socks that would fit and stay on her tiny little feet.
There's a nurse there from the NICU we send pictures to all of the time. When we couldn't find socks and things she actually sewed a beautiful little red dress covered in tiny white hearts and a pair of white tights for Kaleigh's first Valentine's Day. I couldn't have asked for a better hospital staff than the Dr.'s and Nurses at Cox South there in Springfield, MO. Even if they underestimated her...they never gave up or quit!

Had 6 kids here for Halloween last night....and sat snuggling with a girlfriend's baby boy while she was working. They're SOOO sweet when they're tiny and just want to cuddle. I miss the baby years!

Myisha - posted on 11/01/2009

This is so amazing and I wish Kaleigh the best experience ever. Make sure you go to those doctors and let them know that they didn't know what they were talking about because your daughter bet those impossilbe odds. God Bless You and Keep You!!!!

Lynn - posted on 11/01/2009

How wonderful !! A true blessing from God.

Angela - posted on 11/01/2009

When the Psychiatrist told us last month that Kaleigh has high functioning autism (PDD-NOS) I thought...'well...we've been told worse'. LOL I couldn't love her move, and God couldn't have made her more special than she is.

I'd been pregnant with our son right before I had Kaleigh and delivered him stillborn at 6 months gestation. For so long I questioned "why". And then at my 6 week checkup I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant with Kaleigh and carrying twins. I lost one baby 3 months into the pregnancy....but Kaleigh is my fighter, and truly my miracle.

For those of you with preemies who are still fighting the fight. Just know...it is so amazing what those tiny little bodies can do sometimes. God holds those little ones so close, guarding each tiny heart for us to love. So just hold on.

As for prearranged marriages, well...be forewarned she cooks but odds are she's never going to clean! LOL So she's going to either have to have a great job and afford her own maid or marry someone who can afford one. And Laundry is totally out of the question. And she's a little on the 'spoiled' side. ;) I blame that all on Dad and being an only child.

Debbie - posted on 11/01/2009

Your story is wonderful! God has a way of showing the world that He is still in charge! May He continue to bless all your lives. Debbie Potter (Alturas, CA)

Mandy - posted on 11/01/2009

way to go kaleigh, may you forever bloom in this world as ur as pretty as a rose xx

Kerry - posted on 10/31/2009

Wow thats simply amazing, kids are so resilient and are miracles. Well done Kaleigh your family must be sooooo proud of you

Shonene - posted on 10/31/2009

That is the most outstanding thing I have read today! My own daughter was born TWO months pre-mature. She has battled asthma and chronic pnuemonia since she was three weeks old. I LOVE reading how your daughter is off the charts in IQ and MAP testing. My own just entered kindergarten this year. At a YOUNG 5, she is reading at second and third grade levels, and we were just told, she will be entering advanced math. She is doing third and fourth grade math. She is 5 (just turned in August of this year!). Your are absolutely right, FAITH has seen me through too. I knew she was special the minute my water broke EARLY! God wanted her here quicker than the 9 months she needed to grow. Just like your own. I am sending you a great big cyber hug! She is absolutely beautiful and has the brains to fit, God bless you, your family, and may he watch out for her as she grows in her life.

Katina - posted on 10/31/2009

I really admire your story, All things through God is possible and it makes me overjoyed to see God work ..Doctors are great and I thank God for their gifts but the Lord has the last say and for your Kaleigh to go above and beyond the doctors expectation is a wonderful delightment. ....be blessed always

Veronica - posted on 10/31/2009

What a wonderful Story.. Congratulations to Kaleigh!!!!

Brenda - posted on 10/31/2009

She is God's child and a miracle baby!

Julie - posted on 10/31/2009

thats a great miracle for you and your loved one.its great she proved the medical people wrong.and this tells me your family was totally blessed.
glad to hear this gives me hope and faith with my grand daughter who was last month at 2 pounds and has heart surgery and still fighting to survive has had a lot of issues.
but she is in his hands he no's whats best for her.
thank you god for letting us have her just the time we have had now and hope we have her for many years.

julie manzo (nana)

Lori - posted on 10/31/2009

The true human spirit is alive, as it can overcome even the gravest situation. Way to go, and keep up the hard work.

Deanise - posted on 10/31/2009

I so understand the feelings you must have had when she was born. We have 2 preemies, one at 28 wks, one at 33. Our daughter is 4 now and has well exceeded the doctors expectations, she has no problems. Our son is now 2, he does have a few issues but none that are holding him back. I am so glad your daughter has done so well and hope she continues to!

Cathy - posted on 10/31/2009

CONGRATULATIONS!!! God is good ALL the time! I have a son who's autistic and I have the same faith you do. No doctor can tell us what God has planned for our special kids. I love it when He proves the doctors wrong!

Gina - posted on 10/31/2009

WOOOOOOW that is terrific-alllllllllll things are possible to him who believes-God is sooo good-u AREEE blessed and blessings on Kaleigh

Marien - posted on 10/31/2009

My mother always told us, Faith can mover mountains or Hope is the last thing to lose, and I think your daughter is prove of that, you should be so proud, I wish you and your family all the best and remember we might think God is testing us, but He never gives us test, He knows we wont handle. Keep the Faith and God Bless

Andra - posted on 10/31/2009

that is totally awesome! way to go Kaleigh!

Bridget - posted on 10/31/2009

She is absolutely gorgeous! You must be so proud.

Ncamsile - posted on 10/31/2009

Quoting Angela:

Kaleigh at Age 11

Born at 30 weeks 4lbs 0oz we were told she would never walk, talk, hold her own head up, or have proper cognitive thought and be able to speak due to preemie brain bleeds. Yet as you can see she's Everything we dreamed and MORE. This year she received the distinguished nomination from DUKE university to attend college this summer (yep..she's only in 7th grade) based on her IQ and MAP testing scores. She will also be attending Truman State University this year. Doctors may have thought she was too weak and wounded to have hope, but we had FAITH. And today...we are blessed because we have Kaleigh!

Whatever God give is for the good,though satan sometimes makes us think we are being punished. All the best!!!

Alison - posted on 10/31/2009

you must be so proude she is beautiful what a great story and a lot off it is down to you

Janette - posted on 10/31/2009

And she's gorgeous to boot! Smart and stunning, what a combination. Hey, can I arrange a marriage now for your Kayleigh and my thirteen year old son David when they're say 25? :-)

Tammie - posted on 10/30/2009

What an AWESOME story! People just don't realize what an awesome God we serve! Your story has inspired me! And I say way to go, Kaleigh!