Advocating For Lifelong Follow-Up After Preterm Birth

I was born preterm at 26 weeks of gestation in 1992 and I spent three months in the hospital. At discharge, my parents were told that my lungs could be permanently impaired (due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia), but that it should not prevent me from doing my everyday life activities. They were also warned about adverse neurological outcomes and learning difficulties, so they happily welcomed each developmental milestone I reached, never knowing when they could be sure that I would no longer be at risk.