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."
My heartfelt sympathies to your family. May the Good Shepherd's rod and His staff comfort you.
Leni
I am sorry for your loss. He was a fighter!
Thanks for the ping. So nice to see his pictures and sad at the same time.
Thanks for the pictures. It's good to put faces with the names. God Bless them.
Thank you for the pictures. What a beautiful baby!!!! Malachi, precious angel.
prayers continue
What a precious boy and mom and dad! Praise God for Malachi! Thank you so much for the ping to the photo tribute. I continue in prayer for his mom and dad and all who love him.
Wonderful baby Malachi. Another tiny miracle that reminded us of our faith. Thank you Phillip and Monica for allowing us into your lives.
BTTT!!!!!!
Bttt.
What a beautiful baby, even amongst all the tubes.
Yes! He's a big boy now.
If you could have seen him open his eyes and look at me when I told him to look at me for he had just come from the Lord's Presence....I felt as if he knew every word I had said! His Dad was saying, "Malachi, wake up son".
I prayed for him....up close, as he looked at me. When you look at his eyes, up close in the last photo, he was listening.
Bless the sweet little man and God Bless his precious parents! They are a very devoted couple!
God will bless them with other children, I pray!
They are great parents and a very loving family!
I wish I could hug them every day!
My husband, Mr Pilgrim and I were so blessed to meet them.
Wow..... lots of fight packed in that tiny, beautiful package named Malachi.
BG, thanks for the ping and Lady Pilgrim, thanks for the pictures.
Malachi's Mom and Dad, take comfort in the knowledge that we're all supporting you with our prayers and our encouragement for your healing. Malachi is strengthened and comforted by the mighty Comforter now.
Thank you for going out of your way for Malachi's parents and for posting the pictures. Continued prayers for Monica and Phillip.
Thank you everyone for being so supportive. Phillip and I have actually been doing pretty well. We have been on the move constantly since the funeral. I'm afraid once we slow down, it will hit us hard. We will continue to talk with you all as you have been a big part of our family for months.
Thank you again for being there and continue to keep us in prayers!
Monica
Pings, my friends. Monica has a note for the thread.
Monica, you have FRmail.
Bless your hearts!
It is this entire FR community who thanks you...
For sharing your precious angel with us
For allowing us to love the 3 of you
For teaching us that indeed, God performs miracles as he did when He again taught us all the meaning of faith and prayer by the way of a tiny little infant named Malachi.
We pray that in the future your lives will be blessed by another child and shower you with the love that you so richly deserve.
Our love, our prayers and our friendship forever......
"TT", Beth & Nana
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The Tiny "Rosebud" That God Picked to Bloom in Heaven The Master gardener from heaven above -Helen Steiner Rice |
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