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Meet Karen

In the late 1960's I had four children with my first husband (Robert Timm). The middle two were born prematurely.

Karen was born two months early on October 19, 1966 with 'hyline membrane' and was kept in an isolette. She was 4 lbs. 1 oz. at birth and her weight went down to 3 lb. 7 oz. before she started to gain weight. Back in those days I was not allowed into the room where her isolette was so I could only look through a window into the room.

Her situation was serious enough that someone was advising me on her ups and downs many times throughout the day. After four days I went home to look after my 11-month old daughter who needed me. We brought Karen home when she was a month old and just over 5 lbs. Other than the normal childhood illnesses, she has done well. Today, she is (almost) 40 years old and she herself is the mother of three girls who were born prematurely as well.

Karen developed the H.E.L.P. syndrome with the first pregnancy and her baby was delivered six weeks early. The baby did well so Karen went on and had two more babies, experiencing the same syndrome and ending up with healthy babies who are all doing well.

My third child, Allan, was born six weeks early in the evening of September 11, 1967. His lungs collapsed shortly after birth. The next morning, Dr. McCutcheon told me that he and three other doctors had been taking care of my baby boy all through the night. I don't remember how long Allan stayed in the hospital, but he grew up to be a healthy 6 ft. 7 inches tall and he is the father of two girls. His oldest daughter was born December 18, 1991 with a 'hole in her heart' which was repaired in Calgary when she was an infant. Then my youngest, Penny, was born two weekes early on October 1, 1969. I do not remember many more details, but I was told that my daughter Karen's (Timm) medical history was being used as a teaching example in the 1970's.

- As told by Mrs. Phyllis Pylypow

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