It's World Prematurity Day. A day to recognize and show support for families who have dealt with or are currently dealing with the anxiety of premature birth.

My youngest daughter was born six weeks early, or more accurately at 35 weeks and 5 days, for all my fellow premie families. 

While she was clearly ready to meet the world, we weren't feeling prepared for her to arrive just yet. Like so many families with premature babies, we felt so many mixed emotions... Joy, love, fear and stress.

I thought that since this was our second child, things would be "easier" but we had new challenges ahead of us, none of which were easy. 

This teeny-tiny baby was so fragile, and we felt like we were learning everything from scratch. We wanted more than anything to bring her home with us but that was equally terrifying; and there was an indescribable empty feeling going home without her.

We look back on those early weeks with full hearts and such fond respect and gratitude for the NICU doctors and nurses who gave us the assurance that we needed.

Today, that teeny-tiny baby is healthy, happy, successfully thriving and one of the tallest kids in her class.

Today, I'm remembering those weeks spent in the NICU, the faces of tired new parents, the determined babies and amazing health care professionals.

Happy World Prematurity Day to all the rockstar families and the doctors and nurses that help to start them on their journey. 

-Shilpa