premature birth

October 22, 2025
Jerry-Wayne : We Still Have Hope
We can’t take him out and show him the world like we want to because he gets sick so easily. And when he does, it becomes life-threatening.

October 22, 2025
Premature Birth Signs During Pregnancy to Be on the Lookout For
Discover what to look for when it comes to premature birth signs and symptoms and what to expect with early deliveries.

October 22, 2025
Maddy : Whole & Free
The day Maddy was born, we were told she had bleeding on both sides of her brain and her kidneys were showing signs of failure. They only gave her one day to survive, but our little angel fought and lived another two days.

September 19, 2025
Joseph : 41 Miraculous Minutes
I named him Joseph Alexander Dean, after my grandfather who was like a father to me. I held him, memorizing every inch of his face. My eyes flooded with tears, full of love, pride, and heartbreak. My son lived for 41 miraculous minutes. He defied every expectation. And then, he was gone.

September 19, 2025
Oaklee : Time Cut Far Too Short
Oaklee was declining fast. She was no longer breathing on her own. And I made the hardest decision of my life—to withdraw care. I couldn’t watch her struggle anymore.

December 28, 2024
Aidan & Thomas : Hardship to Thriving
By Lisa SmithMommy to Aidan & ThomasMonochorionic Twin Pregnancy, sIUGR, born premature2024 At just 17 weeks pregnant with twins, we learned we had a monochorionic twin pregnancy (sharing one placenta) that resulted in selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR). Because of this, there was a chance that the smaller baby (baby A/Aidan) would not continue to…

November 13, 2024
OAW Provides NICU Halloween Mini Sessions in Two Cities
For the second year, On Angels’ Wings provided Halloween pictures to families with a child in the NICU during the week of Halloween for both Springfield, Missouri hospitals. New this year, the organization also provided NICU Halloween pictures to patients and their families in the Mercy St. Louis hospital too! This additional service is sponsored…

November 5, 2024
Walker: Born Weighing Less than Two Pounds
By Mya BerryMommy to WalkerBorn premature at 28 weeks, weighing 1 lb 7 ozJune 2023 Walker was our rainbow baby, a little miracle after months of trying and the heartbreak of a miscarriage. We were beyond excited and hopeful, feeling like everything was falling into place. My pregnancy had been smooth, and every doctor’s visit…

November 5, 2024
Micah : Arrived Weighing 1 Pound, 9 Ounces
By Cassandra SheltonMommy to MicahBorn premature at 24 weeks in May 2023 On the morning of May 5th, everything seemed ordinary. I was nearly 24 weeks pregnant, feeling grateful and hopeful, as any expectant mother would. But that night, I felt severe cramping and, realizing something was wrong, I went to the ER. Part of…

November 5, 2024
Fred: 145 Days in the NICU
By Savannah MandellMommy to FredBorn premature at 25 weeks in January 2023 When Matthew and I married on January 19th, we were full of hope and excitement. We had an anatomy scan scheduled for our baby boy just hours after our wedding. We were told he was smaller than expected for his gestational age, but…