My name is Sienna Emily Aleman and I was born at 26 weeks
gestation on March 19, 1997. I weighed 1 lb. 8 oz. and was 12 1/4 inches long. My APGAR scores
were 5 at one minute and 8 at five minutes. I think this was pretty impressive!
11 Days Old
The doctors had told Daddy and Mommy that because Mommy's
amniotic fluid had disappeared at 21 weeks ( a condition known as
oligohydramnios) I would
surely die in utero or be born "with no lungs". During the final trimester of pregnancy, the lung development
occurs and the body produces surfactant, a substance that helps keep the small air sacs expanded and prevents them
from collapsing. Because I was born so early, an artificial surfactant was used to prevent difficulty breathing.
I was on a respirator for 30 days due to Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), a condition caused by an insufficient supply of surfactant. The respirator
provided breathing assistance by supplying and regulating a flow of air, oxygen and air pressure to the lungs.
I got tired of that machine so I pulled it right out one day and scared everyone in sight! Boy, was that fun. It
was then that I was put on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for one week. This is a respiratory method that forces a constant flow of air into the lungs
through a narrow tube placed in the nostrils. I didn't like this much either, in fact it really bothered me and
was wearing away at my little nose. I looked like a deep sea diver and constantly pulled those tubes out of my
nose! Finally, they put me on nasal cannula for 2 weeks before they finally let me breathe with no
assistance. The cannula is two small prongs in the nose that delivers a flow of oxygen with no pressure. It was
much more comfortable. The high pressures of the respirator and CPAP cause damage to the lungs which result in
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
(BPD), a chronic lung disease. Normally, when a baby is on respiratory support for more than 28 days, BPD occurs.
Fortunately, although I was diagnosed with BPD, I have had no problems with my lungs. I was also given steroids,
chest physiotherapy and a medicine called aminophylline to help my lungs mature.
I spent my first 6 days of life under special blue lights called phototherapy.
Premature babies are more likely to develop jaundice and turn yellow because their liver may be slow to start functioning
on it's own. The process of phototherapy corrects this and prevents brain damage. I had a total of 9 blood transfusions and many rounds of antibiotics
for various infections during my stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. My only connection to the "outside
world" from inside my isolette was through an umbilical artery
catheter (UAC) through which medications were administered and blood
samples were drawn. This had to be removed after 8 days, because it was stopping circulation to my lower extremities,
At this time a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC line) was placed in my arm. This
remained in place for 1 month. I was nourished through an IV for the first 30 days of my life. Sometimes the IV's
would come out or the nurses couldn't find a new vein to poke so they would shave off a patch of my hair and put
it in my scalp, EEKS!!! It really didn't hurt me there it just looked horrible!
Mommy and Daddy first held me on March 30, 1997. I fit right
into the palms of mommy's hands. She gave me my first sponge bath on April 10, 1997. Mommy and Daddy also did kangaroo care. This is where the nurses would place me along with all my tubes and wires on their chests and they
would hold me like that. It was very nice and it helped me to calm down and relax. Those were my favorite times.
I was diagnosed with Patent
Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a heart condition in which the blood vessels
that connects the aorta and the pulmonary artery does not close as it should shortly after birth. I was given a
medication in an attempt to close the vessel instead of performing open heart surgery. The medication was successful
and the vessel closed in a matter of days.
I had 3 Necrotizing
Enterocolitis(NEC) scares, but just scares. The antibiotics given
and the fact that it was caught early never let the disease develop. This is a deterioration of the intestinal
tract. It is caused by inflammation of the intestinal tract or decreased blood supply to the bowel. It can lead
to perforation of the bowel if not caught early. It seemed just as I was tolerating larger amounts of breast milk
mixed with formula, my stomach would become distended and they would have to start the feedings all over from the
beginning. They fed me through an oro-gastric
tube (og tube), which is a narrow, flexible tube that is threaded
through the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach. My first
gavage (tube) feeding was on April 4, 1997, I was given a whole 2 cc's every 6 hours! This was a lot for
my little tummy. This procedure was used until the bottle was introduced on May 17,1997. I took 20 cc's in just
8 minutes from that first bottle and finished looking for more! Preemies must be taught how to breathe, suck and
swallow all at the same time. It seems the sucking reflex is not present so early and a speech therapist must introduce
bottle feeding. I did very well from the start and preferred a bottle over that nasty tube every time. I soon became
a pro and by June 3, I was taking one ounce by bottle every 3 hours.
I also developed Stage II - Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), an eye disease found
primarily in premature infants. A premature baby's exposure to oxygen therapy confuses the genetic program and
blood vessels in the eyes may begin to grow in an erratic manner and bleed into the eye structure causing formation
of scar tissure. These scars may form behind the lens and block out light, doing damage to the retina. Fortunately,
in my case, it corrected itself.
I was finally able to maintain my own body temperature and
put into an open crib on June 8, 1997. I really enjoyed this because I could see everyone and everything around
me much clearer. I was sick of that plastic box!
I passed my hearing test on June 12th and was discharged from
NICU after 92 long days on June 18,1997, weighing 4 lbs. 9 oz and was sent home on an apnea monitor.
Premature infants normally suffer from apnea, a breathing pause lasting longer than 20 seconds which results in
bradycardia, a significant
drop in the heart rate. The monitor alerts the parents with an alarm when one of these occurs.
I am now 3 1/2 years old! I am 37 lbs. and 37 inches tall,
that's over 3 feet. I'm in school now 2 days a week and I'm very smart. I know my ABC's. I can even write most
of the alphabet and my name and mommy's name too. I take ballet and tap and had my first recital in June. I love
to dress up and I'm very particular about my clothes. I know what matches and love to shop.
I used to suffer from
Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), which means I spit up a lot. The muscle between my esophagus and stomach does
not close tightly, which allows the food in my tummy to be thrust up and out. I was weaned from my medicines in
May, 1998. I'm not the greatest eater, but you could never tell from my size. I love pizza, mac n' cheese and chicken
fingers. My favorite food is shrimp I have expensive taste.
I am an extremely happy child and charm everyone with my smile.
Sienna is getting quite famous! Her story was featured on
the local news, on a spanish talk show and in a local newspaper. She is the
March of Dimes, WalkAmerica, Goodwill Ambassador for the Nations # 1 Law Enforcement Team sponsored by the Dade County PBA, for the
third year in a row! I was also featured in Woman's World magazine in March 2000.
Sienna is now 6 years old!! She started Kindergarten last
fall and loves it! She is very smart and was named "Student of
the Month" in October.
She is growing up fast and has lost 4 of her baby teeth already. Sienna is also very active. She took 2 years of
ballet, 1 year of ice skating and is now enjoying being a cheerleader! In December, Sienna became a big sister!
Gianna Sylvia was born FULL TERM
on December 26, 2002!
7 Months (4 Months Corrected)
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