Tiny But Mighty

This here is a picture of my cutie-pie niece, Sofia, the one who was born 3 months premature at 1 pound, 12 oz. She's a testament to modern science, the tireless love and care of her parents, and to her own indomitable will. She was born tiny-but-mighty and those of us in her extended family are glad to see her growing up and doing all the things full-term babies do without any lasting harm from her early entrance and 3 months in the ICU.

This here is a shout out to my brother and his wife, and all the parents who begin their job not in the way they expected but adapt and rally to the challenge, visiting their preemie in the ICU , holding her, loving her and praying every second that she will hang on to the tiny life they can't imagine doing without. Here's to the doctors and nurses who provide around-the-clock care to these nascent lives who deserved a better start than a hurried ejection from the womb.

Let's all celebrate the gift of new life, the miracles brought by scientific knowledge and the love in parents and the rest of us that cares for the tiniest among us.