I agree Fiona that the prem journey, albeit stressful, wasn't a bad experience as such. It brings with it a greater understanding of others among other things. I loved having links with other prem parents as it normalised things too, and I loved seeing the photo collages parents have made and given to the hospital depicting their beautiful prem children from birth to childhood. Like you, I have had an urge to somehow help other prem parents, and in a way have done this a bit by being on a hospital committee where my daughter was born, and I feel really lucky to be part of the process of setting things in place to make it better for other parents of prems encountering the NICU environment in future..

It is wonderful how well Airlie is going, and she is lucky to have you as her mum.

I agree there is no point wishing the prem journey had been different as you can't look back and change it, but of course it is a part of who our wonderful child is and the experience brings many positives to their personality and their family.

Thanks for your reply Fiona