On October 12, 2016, my husband and I arrived for my third-trimester visit. Little did we know that this would be the day that would change our lives forever. Immediately following our ultrasound, our doctor informed us that I would need to undergo a cesarian surgery to save our daughter’s life. Those were the last words I heard. My mind was filled with so many racing thoughts. I cannot recall any other time in my life when I felt so many emotions all at once. Our doctor was very loving but also expressed urgency. She gave us a moment to talk about this life-changing decision that needed to be made. My husband and I began to pray. The next day, at 1:59 p.m., our daughter was born at just 29 weeks. She was immediately taken to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The day that I was discharged from the hospital was one of the most emotional days for my husband and me. To arrive home to an empty nursery, knowing our baby would not be home until she was at least 5 lbs. Our journey in the NICU was a long one. Long days and even longer nights. Her weight fluctuated up and down daily. It felt like an eternity before she reached 2 lbs. Throughout our time in the NICU, we had the opportunity of being surrounded by the most supportive staff to care for our baby girl, it was still so hard to leave her. During the 2.5 months that our daughter was in the NICU, we met other parents. We loved and supported one another. We found ways to celebrate every milestone. We had “Pound Parties” and celebrated every chance we got. The long hours spent in the NICU allowed me a lot of time to think. I would often wonder what life would look like once our baby returned home. I had faith that everything would be okay, but there was often a great deal of anxiety. It was at this time that “Every Ounce of Love” was born. I started journaling and writing to our daughter. Putting my feelings on paper gave me hope. I envisioned what I wanted to do to support parents experiencing preterm birth. What is it that would have helped me during those days when I just wanted to talk to someone who would understand. Someone who had experienced what we were going through. Fast forward to today, our little NICU warrior is thriving and hitting all developmental milestones. She is living proof of God’s love. It is my hope that by sharing our story, and the stories of so many other NICU warriors, we can support parents throughout their greatest time of need. To inspire and support parents of premature babies when they need it most, with Every Ounce of Love, every step of the way.