Zorbitz Lucky Karma Beads and Charms Help Focus Intentions

I know that if the Zorbits Lucky Lucky Karma Bracelets Karma Bracelets and Feng Shui Luck Charms were available when my youngest was in the NICU, we would have used them as another way to focus our energy and our intentions on her healing.

Like the Water Blessing Labels, the Zorbitz products provide positive affirmations and inspirational messages to help you focus your intentions. With NICU Parents trying to focus on love, health and miracles, wearing or hanging one of these products can work as a reminder of your intentions.

Even if you don't believe that there is any inherent power in the beads or the gemstones, what can change is yourself. The bracelet and luck charm can serve as a reminder to focus your thoughts and energy on positive words and intentions like health, love, miracles and strength.

Lucky Karma Bracelets

These are the bracelets that would have the best intentions for NICU parents.

• Unexpected Miracles - Karmalogy Beads
  
• Love/Friendship - Karmalogy Beads
  
• Health/Inner Strength - Karmalogy Beads
  

I own many of the Lucky Karma Bracelets and have given many of these lucky bracelets to friends and family.

Feng Shui Luck Charms

These are the luck charms that would have the best intentions for NICU parents.

• Unexpected Miracles - Feng Shui Luck Charms
  
• Peaceful Life - Feng Shui Luck Charms
  
• Love - Feng Shui Luck Charms
• Good Health - Feng Shui Luck Charms

I also own several of the Lucky Charms and have two hanging in the car and around the house. After hanging up an Unexpected Miracles Luck Charm in the car, I was able to solve the problem that I'd been having with my computer. The miracle was that I did not have to get an entirely new computer.

More about Zorbitz
The company products bring earth's gems and woods to give people the earth's healing qualities needed in your everyday life. They believe that everyone needs Zorbitz whether it's for love, health, wealth, or even an unexpected miracle.

Zorbitz is 100% women owned and determined to make a difference and the company believes in giving back. Zorbitz has contributed over $60,000 to charities around the world.

Dyer KA. Zorbitz - Lucky Karma Beads - Feng Shui Luck Charms. Squidoo.com

Inspirational Story: Micro Preemies Become Adults

This inspirational story comes from the NICU at Children's Hospital in Minnasota. Six former NICU babies, micro preemies, reunited with neonatologist Dr. Ronald Hoekstra, the physician credited with keeping them alive. These six former NICU babies are all college students now.

What is a Micropreemie?
A micropreemie or micro preemie is one that weighs less than 1000 grams, usually between 700-800 grams (1 3/4 pounds) and is born before 26 weeks of gestation. An average pregnancy is 40 weeks, with a weight of somewhere between 6 and 9 pounds.

In the late 1980's babies born before 26 weeks had about a 50% shot at survival. Today their survival rate is nearly 90%.



Dr. Hoekstra's Findings
Hoekstra found in the preemies he studied born from 1986 to 1989 one key to their survival is that they were remarkably resilient.

Even though some of the preemies in the group experienced problems ranging from poor vision to cerebral palsy (about 10 in the group) as a group they have been very successful. Nearly 90% finished high school and nearly 60% have continued on to college.

Dr. Hoekstra believes the key to the success of these micropreemies is eEarly intervention and parental support and follow-up.

"If you hang in there, a lot of these children will surprise you."

You can read more about the Micro Preemies at the article on Type-A Mom.

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A related article is on the Type-A Mom site under the NICU section of Mom Stages.


More on the Micro Preemies

Fowler J. May 2009. When Miracle Babies Grow Up! People Magazine.
Dyer K. May 2009. Inspiration from the NICU as Micro Preemies Grow Up. Type-A Mom.
Glick P., Irish M., Caty M., Pearl R. 2000. Pediatric surgery secrets. Elsevier Health Sciences p. 321.

Creating a Circle of Healing and Support

I have long held the belief, both personally and professionally, that there is a healing power in holding a person in one's thoughts whether you are saying prayers or giving blessings or lighting candles. This belief in holding a person in your thoughts are the same beliefs echoed by Dr. Jim Reeves, the urologist who treated Cancer Survivor, Lance Armstrong.

There is an ancient Chinese belief
that when a person is held
in the hearts and minds and souls
of so many other people,
they can do better.

One of the greatest difficulties for me as a NICU parent, who was also used to being a physician, was the overwhelming feeling that there wasn't anything I could do for my daughter. I had to step back and turn over all of the care to those who understood the NICU technology and could help her medically to heal.

I decided to change my feeling of helplessness by taking a more active role in her care. We created a Circle of Healing to have friends and family hold her 'in their hearts and minds and souls...so she could do better.'

Our Circle of Healing for My Youngest Daughter
Within days after the birth of my youngest daughter and her unexpected NICU admission, thanks to the connection power of the Internet, we were able to quickly contact friends and family to notify them of what had happened.

On Easter morning, our newborn daughter was included on several prayer lists and prayer circles, only two days after her birth. Via phone calls and e-mail messages we tapped into the healing powers to create a circle of positive thoughts and energies from friends and family around the United States and around the world. We asked everyone to hold our daughter in their thoughts, to keep positive thoughts and prayers to mentally aid in her healing process and strengthen the Circle of Healing around her.

I truly believe that having so many people hold our daughter in their hearts, minds and souls, mentally aided in her healing process. We were blessed with the outcome. The Circle of Healing we created for her helped keep her safe and protected until she was strong enough to be discharged from the hospital.

Continuing the Circle of Healing
Rev. Schwing (see prior post) was the start of the Circle of Healing that we created starting on Easter Sunday Morning for my youngest daughter Kristiina while she was in the NICU.

Writing this article, I wondered who would be there if our baby had a health crisis? I don’t know. I trust that the Circle of Healing would be there. Sometimes we are on the giving end, sometimes on the receiving end. That’s what keeps the circle going.

The nurses at UCSF continued Kristiina's Circle of Healing by hanging a blessing that we wrote for her above her isolette. You can read a copy of the blessing that we wrote for her posted on the Journey of Hearts Website as A Healing Blessing. Part of the blessing is included below.

Ironically, Rev. Schwing would experience being a NICU parent several years later with the birth of his second child. The Circle of Healing was there during his challenging time in the NICU.

My Wish for Current NICU Parents
For this Easter season, as I am reminded of our own NICU experiences, I would like to extend the following wish for NICU and ICN parents who currently have their newborns in the hospital.

May you continue to heal

moment by moment
hour by hour
day by day
knowing that so many love you
and wait to welcome you.

May you feel loved.
May you be safe.
May you be protected.
May you be strong.
May you be healed.

May you find healing, in whatever form that healing might take.

Our Easter Gift
This Special Healing Blessing comes as a bonus when you download the Free NICU eBook, For Those Who Hold the Littlest Hands.

More Resources:
Dyer KA. An Easter Healing Blessing in the Intensive Care Nursery NICU Parent Support Blog.
Dyer KA. Circle of Healing - Cloisonné Lapel Pin. The Violet Heart Collection on Squidoo.
Dyer KA. 2002. A Healing Blessing. Journey of Hearts.

10/22 - Comforting Moment: Just Smile

Charlie Chaplin came up with a simple strategy for how to survive those most difficult of days...just smile. This is a good song to listen to on those days when everything seems to be filled with sadness as a way of believing that things will get better.

Josh Groban is one of my favorite singers. I have been fortunate to see him three times in concert, the last time with my daughters, young Josh Groban fans at ages 7 and 5.

Josh Groban's rendition of the classic song "Smile" will remind you to keep smiling. I would have had this available for me to listen to on an iPod, during our NICU days, if iPods existed then.



Smile Song Lyrics

Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.
Music written by Charlie Chaplin, 1936.

Smile though your heart is aching;
Smile even though it's breaking.
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by.
If you smile through your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow,
You'll see the sun come shining through for you.

Light up your face with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness.
Although a tear may be ever so near,
That's the time you must keep on trying,
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile,
If you just smile.

That's the time you must keep on trying,
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

Even if you are feeling a bit blue, you may find yourself starting to ask yourself:

...what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

More:
Dyer KA. Smile Thought Your Heart is Aching. Squidoo.com

Image Source: Michael Bretherton. Sand Stuff. Royalty Free Use.

Creatively Coping: Preemie Prayer Pockets

Laurie Anderson of Southern Stitches has created a beautiful idea for NICU Parents and their family and friends. You can create a Preemie Prayer Pocket as a gift for parents, family, friends and nurses to wear and think about your baby or other NICU babies. It is a wonderful idea of creatively coping with the NICU.

Preemie Prayer Pocket
The tiny footprints on the design were taken from a 14-week old baby weighing 3 oz. You can download the instructions on her website. Follow the directions to create the pocket, enclose the preemie prayer, or any other message.

To simply attach a pin to the back for wearing, or use baby diaper pins if you want something more decorative.

The Prayer for the Preemie Pocket
Preemie Prayer Pockets have an prayer enclosed within the pocket.

Prayer for the Prayer Pocket

If you have worries, fears and tears
for this tiny baby, held so dear,
just tuck them in this little heart…
Angels will take them to God above
and He will comfort you with His healing love.
When you come back later and peek inside.
You will see there's nothing left to hide…
for God's love will forever abide.

Once you get the Preemie Pocket Prayer, you can write down your own concerns and stick them in the pocket.

Note:
The preemie patterns are to be used only for charity sewing for preemies, no sales are allowed. The designs and instructions themselves are copyrighted and all rights remain with Laurie Anderson/Southern Stitches

Designs © Laurie Anderson, Southern Stitches. The designs are for charity use only. No sales are allowed.

Source:
Anderson L. Preemie Prayer Pockets. Threads of Love. Southern Stitches. http://www.southern-stitches.com/preemie.html

Other Resources on Prayer Pockets:
Prayer Pockets. Forum. Martha Pullen.com. Sewing Made Easy.
http://forums.marthapullen.com/read.php?f=10&i=1704&t=1313

7/29 - Encouraging Message - NICU Parents and Families are True Heros

...a hero is an ordinary individual
who finds the strength
to persevere and endure
in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

They are the real heroes,
and so are the families and friends
who have stood by them.

Christopher Reeve
1952 - 2004

NICU Parents are the Real Heroes
I think anyone who has lived through a NICU experience would agree that NICU Parents and their families are the real heroes. These are ordinary people who have been challenged with an extraordinary event (the sudden NICU hospitalization of a newborn) and yet despite this obstacle, somehow find the courage, the strength and the will to persevere despite the challenge.

Christopher Reeve - Superman, Super Human Being
Anyone who was around in 1978 remembers Christopher Reeve as Superman and the Super Hero.

At least for me, the image of Christopher Reeve as Superman is one that has been etched for me...particularly in light of the tragic riding accident in 1995 that left this talented actor and "Man of Steel" a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic for the last decade of his life.

Christopher Reeve's accident has always been a reminder to me that how life can change in just a flash of a moment, a blink of an eye. Everything is normal one moment and very different the next.

The Full Quote
Here is the text of the full quote and how his definition of hero change with time and with circumstances:

When the first Superman movie came out, I gave dozens of interviews to promote it. The most frequent question was: What is a hero? My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences.

Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. They are the real heroes, and so are the families and friends who have stood by them.

Rising above Tragedy to Focus on Living
I remember being so amazed at how Christopher and Dana Reeve were both able to quickly rise above their family tragedy and focus on the positive. Their grace and great courage in the face of adversity has always been a source of inspiration for me.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is an example of one of the many organizations that has formed as a result of a tragic event and gone on to do so much to help so many.

I think another one of his quotes summarizes how he was able to keep on living despite experiencing such a life changing event:

There will be ups and there will be downs,
there will be times when things make sense,
there will be times when they won't,
but you'll always be on an adventure of meaning
if you live for self, family, and others.

These words of wisdom also apply to anyone facing a challenge. I hope that NICU Parents and families will find them to be as inspirational in facing challenging times and I do.

Other Related Blog Posts:
Dyer KA. Comforting Message - Struggling for Your Dreams. July 23, 2007.
Source:
Christopher and Dana Reeve. About Us. Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

Photo Source: Erica Johnson. Superman Pillow. Royalty Free Use.

7/23 - Comforting Message - Struggling for Your Dreams

But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats.

No one can avoid them.

But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams,

Than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for.

Paulo Coelho

NICU Struggles
I think if you would talk to most NICU Parents many would use the words "struggle," "battle," and "challenge" to describe their time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

I know what I was battling for shortly after my daughter arrived in the NICU. I was fighting to keep my daughter strong enough, in whatever ways I could imagine, and struggling to have her stay on this side and not cross over (not to die).

Dreaming New Dreams
NICU parents have to quickly adjust to the fact that their dream of taking home a healthy happy newborn shortly after delivery is not going to happen.

MOD Family Support Specialist, Melissa offers these words of wisdom:

This was not what you were expecting.
You had dreams of this precious child being born and going home. Storybook fantasies of being a mom...filled your dreams at night.
This is the way you believed things would be...
Not spending your baby's first days in an intensive care unit.

Sometimes we have to sit back and accept that we are working towards a new normal. Our normal.

Melissa
Share Your Story

Sometimes we have to step back, let go of the old dreams and begin dreaming new ones.

The dreams of NICU Parents are often postponed and changed. Dreams of going home with a precious baby...change to ones of having a healthy, happy, peaceful baby at home...at some point.

Source:
Melissa. Baby in the NICU. Share Your Story. May 2, 2007.

Photo Source: Dick Herrmann. Sleeping Baby. Use with Permission. www.lakepeople.de

7/15 - Encouraging Message - Believe and Follow Your Aspirations

For NICU parents, trying to keep on believing and hoping that your NICU baby will be fine can be difficult. Lousia May Alcott's quote is a beautiful reminder to follow your highest hopes for your baby.

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.

I may not reach them

but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them,

and try to follow them.

Louisa May Alcott

Photo Source: Manoel Silva. Clouds. Royalty Free Use

7/1 - Encouraging Message - Whispered Silent NICU Prayers

I often think that because of silent prayers
whispered over my son in the NICU,
he is here today
and is, no doubt,
a miracle.

Anonymous*

About the Photo:
This photo was a beautiful illustration of a NICU Prayer. From the photographer's description about the story behind the photo:

At this time, Abigail (twin sister) was is NICU... So I consider this Ethan's prayer for Abigail... It about makes me tear up every time I see this. :) By the way, he wasn't even a day old yet when this photo was taken.

More Resources
Preemie Prayer: http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Preemie.html

* Source:
Anonymous post in response to What I Do. Ants Marching. http://marciakilpatrick.blogspot.com/2007/06/what-i-do.html

Photo Source:
Klifton. a ~ p r a y e r. Used with Permission. http://www.emotions-photography.net Available at: http://www.flickr.vip.mud.yahoo.com/photos/klifton/126555149/in/set-72157594231831607

6/25 - Comforting Message - Living on in the Hearts

During times of loss, often a simple message can be the most meaningful and comforting.

This week's comforting message is one of the simple quotes that I have found to be very meaningful and comforting over the years during times of loss.

To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die. Thomas Campbell

To realize the impact of this quote, take a moment to think about

How many people have you known in your life that still live on in your own heart and in your memories?

Photo Credit: Janet Goulden. Two Hearts. Royalty Free Use.

6/11 - Comforting Moment - It's Only Words...

It's only words and words are all I have to take your ache away. The Bee Gees (modified)

I'm so sorry. I wish you comfort. I hope things will be good. I wish this hadn't happened to you.

Words can provide a source of solace, hope, comfort and reassurance--emotions much needed during the grieving process. Words that are written or spoken, help us to realize that we are not alone in our feelings of grief or desolation.

Writing down words is a powerful way of dealing with grief that has been utilized since ancient times. Often the written words can often be more effective than spoken condolences at touching the part of a person's heart which is grieving.

6/10 - Weekly Encouraging Message - Laughter

My daughters are both big fans of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and all of her fairy friends.

This week's EM (Encouraging Message) comes from the author and creator of Peter Pan:

When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.

James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937)

Scottish Dramatist and Novelist

Wishing you magical moments of mirth and merriment with your newborn.

Photo Credit: Becky Szmutko. Laughing Fairy. Used with Permission.

Inspirational Website - Pitter Patter: A Message of Hope from a Former Preemie

I found the most inspiring website today for NICU parents. It is the story of a former NICU preemie, created by the former NICU baby, herself to spread a message of hope to NICU Parents.

About the Site
PitterPatter.info is a website created by a former preemie with a message of hope for parents of preemies. To spread her message of hope, the author created and distributed business cards about the site to NICUs (Neonatal Intensive Care Units) and March of Dimes offices.

The image above compares her actual birth footprints are near actual size (approximately 1 1/2 inches) compared to the letter tiles (3/4 inches).

Her site was also Girl Scout Gold Award Project.

For more information visit the website: http://www.pitterpatter.info/

6/4 - Comforting Moment - Information Helps During Times of Loss

For many parents the loss of a baby is among the highest levels of loss, if not the highest.

While little can assuage the difficult and forgotten grief surrounding stillbirth and neonatal death, information can be helpful regarding the normal feelings and experiences which leave parents in an emotional and spiritual wilderness.

Dr. Elizabeth K. Best

While information cannot take away the intense pain and sorrow you are feeling, getting informed and reading useful resources can help parents to understand the physical and emotional responses and find ways of managing these responses.

Information can also help parents find suggestions and resources that others who have been in similar situations have found to be helpful during their own time of loss.

6/3 - Weekly Encouraging Message - Coping with Life

This week's Encouraging Message is a reminder of just how much we learn about life from our children.

Parents learn a lot
from their children
about coping with life.

Muriel Spark (1918-2006)
Scottish Novelist

I thought I was an expert on being in the hospital and dealing with crises, but my daughter's unexpected NICU admission taught me many new things and gave me invaluable insights about being in the hospital--from the family's perspective.

You can read some of these "Lessons Learned from Crisis" that I learned in the article that written soon after my experiences.

May you enjoy learning from your children.

Image: Stef Komen. Flower in Hand. Royalty Free Use.

5/28 - Comforting Moment for NICU Parents - Loss of an Infant

As mentioned yesterday in the introduction to the Weekly Encouraging Messages, I am a great believer in the power of words to help those facing challenging times or a life crisis. I believe that:

Sometimes, it seems that all you need is the right quote, poem or inspirational message at the right moment to help provide perspective, insight and aid in surviving a life crisis.

...it can be helpful to read the words from others who have been there and survived.

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS
Journey of Hearts

Comforting Moments for NICU Parents
In addition to the Weekly Encouraging Messages, the NICU Parent Support Blog will also be featuring Weekly Comforting Moments for those NICU parents who are facing the end of their baby's life, or living on after their baby has died.

The comforting moments are designed to be short quotes for parents whose babies will die, are dying, have died that can be read quickly and hopefully bring a bit of comfort during this time of challenge.

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Words of Sympathy to Console During This Time of Loss

Those who have lost an infant are never, as it were, without an infant child. Their other children grow up to manhood and womanhood, and suffer all the changes of mortality; but this one alone is rendered an immortal child; for death has arrested it with his kindly harshness, and blessed it into an eternal image of youth and innocence.

James Henry Leigh Hunt

Photo Credit: Gary Cowles. Rock Poem. Royalty Free Use.

5/27 - Weekly Encouraging Message - Newborn Babies

I am a great believer in the power of words and have long felt based on my experiences dealing with people facing challenging events or a life crisis that:

Sometimes, it seems that all you need is the right quote, poem or inspirational message at the right moment to help provide perspective, insight and aid in surviving a life crisis.

...it can be helpful to read the words from others who have been there and survived.

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS
Journey of Hearts

NICU Parent Support Blog will be featuring Weekly Encouraging Messages or EM's to encourage NICU parents in finding hope and gaining perspective while facing their life challenge.

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This week's EM (Encouraging Message) is one of my favorite quotes about babies from Carl Sandburg:

A baby is God's opinion that life should go on.

Never will a time come when the most marvelous recent invention is as marvelous as a newborn baby. The finest of our precision watches, the most super-colossal of our supercargo planes don't compare with a newborn baby in the number and ingenuity of coils and springs, in the flow and change of chemical solutions, in timing devises and interrelated parts that are irreplaceable.

Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)
American Poet

May you enjoy your marvelous invention.