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Hailey White
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She was the first family member to touch Hailey White’s delicate pink skin.
Corin Gates of Roseburg gently placed her fingers on the baseball-sized head and thumb-sized feet of her granddaughter, who slept in a neonatal intensive care unit incubator in Savannah, Ga.
“I said a real quick prayer,” Gates said. “I was afraid she wouldn’t make it.”
Gates’ green eyes light up when she talks about Hailey, who was born at 27 weeks, 5 days and weighed 2 pounds, 5 ounces. The premature baby diapers were too big for Hailey’s tiny body. The 14-and-a-half inch long baby was never supposed to be conceived. After the birth of her first four children, Hailey’s mother, Tambra White, had her cervix removed when doctors diagnosed her with cervical cancer. Doctors told her a large amount of scar tissue was holding the baby. White was on bed rest three months into the pregnancy. The single mother of five was forced to quit her job as an MRI technician.
When Gates got the call that the baby was coming early, her friends pitched in to buy her a plane ticket to visit her daughter and new granddaughter in Georgia.
Doctors warned the family about all of the things that could go wrong with such an early birth, but Hailey grew steadily, and at seven weeks old, she went home this week weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces.
The surprise pregnancy has now been followed by a wave of medical expenses. Gates has hung signs around town, held yard sales and danced at powwows in Gold Hill, Yoncalla, Cottage Grove and White City to raise money for her granddaughter.
When Hailey is strong enough to travel, Gates’ daughter and grandchildren plan to move to Roseburg.
“This is my last grandchild,” Gates said. “I want to be there to guide her and watch her grow. She’s our little miracle.”
• You can reach reporting intern Desiree Aflleje at 957-4211 or by e-mail at daflleje@nrtoday.com.
Corin Gates of Roseburg gently placed her fingers on the baseball-sized head and thumb-sized feet of her granddaughter, who slept in a neonatal intensive care unit incubator in Savannah, Ga.
“I said a real quick prayer,” Gates said. “I was afraid she wouldn’t make it.”
Gates’ green eyes light up when she talks about Hailey, who was born at 27 weeks, 5 days and weighed 2 pounds, 5 ounces. The premature baby diapers were too big for Hailey’s tiny body. The 14-and-a-half inch long baby was never supposed to be conceived. After the birth of her first four children, Hailey’s mother, Tambra White, had her cervix removed when doctors diagnosed her with cervical cancer. Doctors told her a large amount of scar tissue was holding the baby. White was on bed rest three months into the pregnancy. The single mother of five was forced to quit her job as an MRI technician.
When Gates got the call that the baby was coming early, her friends pitched in to buy her a plane ticket to visit her daughter and new granddaughter in Georgia.
Doctors warned the family about all of the things that could go wrong with such an early birth, but Hailey grew steadily, and at seven weeks old, she went home this week weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces.
The surprise pregnancy has now been followed by a wave of medical expenses. Gates has hung signs around town, held yard sales and danced at powwows in Gold Hill, Yoncalla, Cottage Grove and White City to raise money for her granddaughter.
When Hailey is strong enough to travel, Gates’ daughter and grandchildren plan to move to Roseburg.
“This is my last grandchild,” Gates said. “I want to be there to guide her and watch her grow. She’s our little miracle.”
• You can reach reporting intern Desiree Aflleje at 957-4211 or by e-mail at daflleje@nrtoday.com.
How you can help…
Donations for Hailey White can be made to account number 106944 at SOFCU Community Credit Union, 1771 N.E. Stephens St.
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