Posted on 03/05/2005 3:19:49 AM PST by beaversmom
MOBILE, Ala. - A medical team at the University of South Alabama's Children's & Women's Hospital have closely monitored the progress of a newborn who weighed only 10 ounces at birth on Feb. 15.
His parents, Phillip and Monica Whitlock, said tiny Malachi Andreas Whitlock is so far holding his own.
"I feel he's got 100 percent chance of survival," his father said.
They said they chose the name Malachi because it's one of the smallest books of the Bible, and Malachi means "messenger of God."
"He's so small, and he's sent a message to us of what love is," the father said.
Dr. Fabien Eyal, the director of USA's neonatal intensive care unit, said, "Everybody's pulling for him, but we know they're in for a very tough time."
Monica Whitlock had an emergency cesarean section after developing high blood pressure.
Malachi, at 10 ounces, weighed about 290 grams at birth. Most babies placed in the unit, Eyal said, weigh around 400 grams. One baby, born at 350 grams, did survive and went home this week.
Eyal attributed the "incredibly low birth weight" to the fact that Malachi stopped growing before his birth. He put Malachi's actual development at 20 weeks at the time of birth.
The normal gestation period is 40 weeks.
Eyal said babies born at 22 to 24 weeks are at "the limit of viability."
Dad and Mom....you've got a mighty great group of prayer warriors here! If you want pictures of your precious baby posted here, please FRmail me!! Thank you both for coming over here and giving us an update.
WAY TO GO Malachi!!!
I am so happy your son is doing better. The prayer warriors on FR are great, and I am happy to be able to join them in prayers for young Malachi!
I hope they comfort you as well, as y'all are in my prayers too! Please keep us updated.
God Bless You Malachi!
God bless Malachi and his parents.
That argument is tough to avoid when you read a story about babies being viable at 20 weeks and there are still doctors willing to chop them up into little pieces in the third trimester...MUD
I'm so thrilled and delighted to hear the good news about this precious baby. It felt as if a bolt of lightning went through me, same thing I used to feel during premie Logan's difficult days. I really believe that God is blessing this child and that our prayers are being answered.
Thank you for Malachi, Lord, and for keeping him strong, making him grow, and for blessing all who know and pray for him.
That's EXACTLY the feeling I got when I first read this post...
BTTT!!!!!
BTTT!!!!!!
Hello Milachi's Mom...you are most welcome. It is our pleasure to pray for your child. Glad he is doing well. :)
and what a proud daddy you must be too. Here is a sign I have...I think it talks about you here too...so maybe you can do some searching and find one. I bought mine YEARS ago...
"Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a daddy."
God bless you all!
Thanks for the post, BG.
Malachi's Mom and Dad, we are praying for you and your precious child.
I'll be praying for this little guy.
Continued prayers for Malachi; mom and dad.
Do it, kid! Show 'em! Show the pro-aborts who the real boss is on this planet!
Hang in there mom and dad! You already know who the boss is.
Good news!
Bttt.
Praying hard for Malachi Andreas.
Lord, please bless this tiny baby with a miracle.
Hi yourself!... I'm Texas Termite's Nana!
This entire FR community is praying for your little one just as they did for Logan (Texas Termite). For months and months......and continuing on to this day...all of these wonderful people have been here in loving support of Logan and I know they will do the same for Malachi.
We welcome your family, we pray for all of you, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to witness yet another of God's miracles.
God bless.....
"TT", Beth (his Mommy) and Nana
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