The statistics are staggering. Fifteen million babies are born preterm worldwide each year. One million babies die as a result. In an effort to combat this very serious health problem, a global coalition of consumer and parent groups has been working together to reduce prematurity rates and raise awareness. World Prematurity Day helps bring this cause to the forefront. Since its inception in 2004, Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas has dispensed over 2 million ounces of donor milk to sick babies. Helping these premature and critically ill infants is possible due to the awe-inspiring generosity of donor moms. Often times, moms who have experienced a preterm birth will later become donors to help save other babies with their extra breastmilk. Cassie, a donor from Las Vegas, shares her story:
Cassie's NICU Journey
I had my daughter, pictured above, at 28 weeks due to severe preeclampsia. Having a preemie and experiencing the NICU has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding things I have ever experienced. It was definitely scary at first. Everything was so new to me not only because I was a first time mom, but because I didn’t know what to expect or whether my child would live or die. When you first walk into the NICU, all you see and hear are monitors going off. You learn that it can be anything from a "brady" (bradycardia, an abnormally low heart rate) to the end of a "gavage" feeding (tube feeding). I honestly wouldn’t have been as strong without the guidance and love from the nurses and doctors. I had an elite group of people surrounding me which included other NICU mommies. We all became a family. 
My daughter's lungs had not fully developed which was causing her to have trouble breathing on her own. She progressed from a ventilator, BPAP and CPAP in the beginning - to a nasal cannula almost the majority of her stay, until she finally caught on to suck, swallow and breathe coordination. My daughter was in the NICU for 2 months . . . 2 months and 1 day to be exact! No mother wants or plans for their child to be born prematurely. In these times, you learn about true fear, faith and strength. You experience unfortunate events as well as positive little "sparks". Those sparks are when you see your baby fighting and learning to live outside your womb. You witness a fighter, a miracle and an inspiration.
Cassie's Advice for Other NICU Moms
DON’T BLAME YOURSELF! The first few nights, all I could do was cry and wonder what I did wrong . . . blaming myself for having my daughter too early. Because of severe preeclampsia, my blood pressure sky-rocketed and there was nothing I or the medical team could do to get it down. I wondered if I had just calmed down, took a breath and relaxed more, maybe my blood pressure would’ve gone down. Or if she didn’t live, it was all because of me. Learn to let that guilt go. It is NEVER your fault. That is just when the universe decided your baby was supposed to be born.
YOU HAVE SUPPORT! You are NOT alone. In the NICU, you meet so many amazing people. From other families who have been there before you, families who are there with you, to families who come in after you. You have some of the most God-given nurses and doctors. All these people will become your family and they will always be there as a shoulder for you to cry on. THINGS WILL GET BETTER! Take it one breath at a time.