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When preemies grow up

As her twins enter high school, a grateful mom reflects on how their perilous journey shaped them all.

Twins Cameron and Matthew Lumpkin, now 14, hold a photo of themselves at about three weeks. The boys were born 11 weeks before their due date and weighed only 2 pounds-5 ounces and 3 pounds-5 ounces. For the parents of a preemie -- a baby born before 37 weeks of gestation -- the experience can be nervewracking.

Twins Cameron and Matthew Lumpkin, now 14, hold a photo of themselves at about three weeks. The boys were born 11 weeks before their due date and weighed only 2 pounds-5 ounces and 3 pounds-5 ounces. For the parents of a preemie -- a baby born before 37 weeks of gestation -- the experience can be nervewracking.

Mark Peterson-Redux

A sonogram showed the twins at 23 weeks gestation. Because of advances in science and medicine, the chances of survival for preemies, even those born before 24 weeks, are better than ever, but many of these children suffer developmental and medical problems that can be temporary or lifelong. "This is the preemie prism through which I've viewed my boys' accomplishments," their mother writes.

A sonogram showed the twins at 23 weeks gestation. Because of advances in science and medicine, the chances of survival for preemies, even those born before 24 weeks, are better than ever, but many of these children suffer developmental and medical problems that can be temporary or lifelong. "This is the preemie prism through which I've viewed my boys' accomplishments," their mother writes.

Courtesy of the Author

Cameron,the smaller of the twins, in an isolette at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. The boys were whisked to the neonatal intensive care unit -- moments after they were born.

Cameron,the smaller of the twins, in an isolette at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. The boys were whisked to the neonatal intensive care unit -- moments after they were born.

Courtesy of the Author

The twins with their mom, Tracey A. Reeves, in the hospital. Matthew, in the blue cap, went home first -- a month after he was born. Cameron's homecoming, when he made it to four pounds, was about a month later.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, preterm birth rates rose by more than one-third from the early 1980s until 2006, when they hit 12.8 percent. In 2008, 12.3 percent of babies were born premature.

The twins with their mom, Tracey A. Reeves, in the hospital. Matthew, in the blue cap, went home first -- a month after he was born. Cameron's homecoming, when he made it to four pounds, was about a month later. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, preterm birth rates rose by more than one-third from the early 1980s until 2006, when they hit 12.8 percent. In 2008, 12.3 percent of babies were born premature.

Courtesy of the Author

The boys at about 10 months with their mother, Tracey A. Reeves. After their birth, she had celebrated when they gained an ounce and stressed when they lost one. "The boys held their heads up, crawled and walked later than many babies their age,: she writes. "Cameron almost always followed Matthew developmentally by at least a couple of months."

The boys at about 10 months with their mother, Tracey A. Reeves. After their birth, she had celebrated when they gained an ounce and stressed when they lost one. "The boys held their heads up, crawled and walked later than many babies their age,: she writes. "Cameron almost always followed Matthew developmentally by at least a couple of months."

Courtesy of the Author

The boys, at 5, at their former house in Bowie. "When the boys entered preschool at age 3, I made sure to tell the teachers about their history. If they didn't seem to be measuring up to the other kids in class, I reasoned that it was because they were preemies. ... Even when they excelled, I attributed it to their fight to overcome their prematurity," their mother explains.

The boys, at 5, at their former house in Bowie. "When the boys entered preschool at age 3, I made sure to tell the teachers about their history. If they didn't seem to be measuring up to the other kids in class, I reasoned that it was because they were preemies. ... Even when they excelled, I attributed it to their fight to overcome their prematurity," their mother explains.

Courtesy of the Author

The twins with Robert Glick, in a photo taken by Glick's mother, Sally. All three boys were born at about the same time, and their mothers became friends at the hospital, where they scheduled their visits to coincide. They spent hours rocking, feeding and reading to their babies together and continue to be friends today.

The twins with Robert Glick, in a photo taken by Glick's mother, Sally. All three boys were born at about the same time, and their mothers became friends at the hospital, where they scheduled their visits to coincide. They spent hours rocking, feeding and reading to their babies together and continue to be friends today.

Sally Glick

The twins at their home in Columbia, Md. "I'm sometimes surprised -- even shocked -- when Cameron and his brother, Matthew, now 14, shine on the gridiron, in the classroom, or in other ordinary achievements," their mother writes. "It's not that I have low expectations of my children, but I can never forget their precarious start in life."

The twins at their home in Columbia, Md. "I'm sometimes surprised -- even shocked -- when Cameron and his brother, Matthew, now 14, shine on the gridiron, in the classroom, or in other ordinary achievements," their mother writes. "It's not that I have low expectations of my children, but I can never forget their precarious start in life."

Mark Peterson-Redux

The twins at the Supreme Sports Club in Columbia. When the boys were born nearly 11 weeks before their due date in 1996, the author and her husband "weren't even sure our boys would make it, let alone be able to play sports, take up the violin or sing in their school chorus."

The twins at the Supreme Sports Club in Columbia. When the boys were born nearly 11 weeks before their due date in 1996, the author and her husband "weren't even sure our boys would make it, let alone be able to play sports, take up the violin or sing in their school chorus."

Mark Peterson-Redux

"When I cheer at their football games, I do so not just because they make a key tackle but because, against scary odds, they can walk and run," their mother writes.

"When I cheer at their football games, I do so not just because they make a key tackle but because, against scary odds, they can walk and run," their mother writes.

Mark Peterson-Redux

The twins at home with their mom, Tracey A. Reeves, and their dad, Ben Lumpkin, in Columbia, Md.

The twins at home with their mom, Tracey A. Reeves, and their dad, Ben Lumpkin, in Columbia, Md.

Mark Peterson-Redux

When the boys were in fourth or fifth grade, their mom recalls, she told a neighbor that she feared prematurity might be stunting the progress of one of her sons.
"Tracey!" her friend said, practically yelling. "They're not preemies anymore ...They're fine now."

When the boys were in fourth or fifth grade, their mom recalls, she told a neighbor that she feared prematurity might be stunting the progress of one of her sons. "Tracey!" her friend said, practically yelling. "They're not preemies anymore ...They're fine now."

Mark Peterson-Redux

"You have to stop blaming everything on their premature birth," a neighbor said.
"I felt as though someone had finally knocked some sense into me," their mother writes.

"You have to stop blaming everything on their premature birth," a neighbor said. "I felt as though someone had finally knocked some sense into me," their mother writes.

Mark Peterson-Redux

The twins walk with their parents. "As I look ahead to high school and beyond, I'm beginning to see my boys through a new pair of lenses," their mother writes. "And I love what I see: no longer the fragile preemies they were, but the vibrant young men they are becoming."

The twins walk with their parents. "As I look ahead to high school and beyond, I'm beginning to see my boys through a new pair of lenses," their mother writes. "And I love what I see: no longer the fragile preemies they were, but the vibrant young men they are becoming."

Mark Peterson-Redux

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Judith S. Gillies

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