This is the true story of the heart-wrenching struggle for survival, devastating financial loss, and the power of hope that comes with extremely premature babies born nearly four months early. The twin babies arrived at 24 weeks gestation and each weighed a pound. Imagine that, the same as six sticks of butter! It's a riveting story of despair and tragedy, joy and laughter. I couldn't put it down and I hope you find it the same way...perhaps just not so late into the wee hours of the night. Re-told from journals, the story unfolds like a medical-mystery. Will the twins survive? Will they have devastating disabilities? The breath-taking pace of life-altering decisions in a Neonatal Intensive Care setting is like witnessing an accident--one you can't bear to watch and yet so compelling you can't look away. Follow the roller-coaster ride through heroics, medical miracles, unrelenting fear, and heart-warming joy. The events of this true story will make you cry. You'll be appalled at the insensitivity of some towards this young family. You'll be angry at the gall of insurance companies that use "fine print" to deny coverage for certain medical treatments. And you'll rejoice with the miracle of life fought for and won. With less than a 20% chance of survival at birth, the doctors warned; "If the babies manage to survive, they have an 80% chance of debilitating issues--including cerebral palsy, breathing issues, and severe learning disabilities." The second edition of A Pound of Hope adds the much awaited five-year look back on this harrowing start in life. Read the unexpected outcome (I won't spoil the surprise here!) of these one-pound miracle babies. The backdrop setting for this story of survival is one of financial disaster. This family is bankrupted by the unrelenting medical costs to save their babies. They lose everything--savings and retirement accounts are emptied; belongings are sold and their house is lost as they fall into the bottomless pit of medical bankruptcy. Our leaders in health insurance, medical services, and government have failed to address a hole in the very fabric of our society. A hole so big it swallows families at a time when they are experiencing life-threatening issues. For what is the point of medical miracles if there is no way to pay for them? Our society has developed machines and techniques to preserve and extend life against all odds. But at what cost? Families stricken with the financial burden of catastrophic medical bills will see their financial stability, their future, even their very viability as a family slip away. If science can save the babies, who will save the family?
About the Author: Ms. Michele Kemper, retired after 35 years as an executive in the financial and health insurance industry. She currently serves as an community leader and advocate for medical research to prevent prematurity and stillbirth. She and her husband make their home in the Pacific Northwest. Active in the greater-Seattle community, Michele supports March of Dimes and GAPPS Foundation for research to prevent preterm birth. Ms. Jennifer Sinconis switched management career paths after the birth of her premature twins to join the socially-conscious Starbucks corporation. Jennifer has many years experience supporting community programs for children with special needs--including Special Olympics. Since the preterm birth of her twins, she serves as an advocate for families with critically ill children and holds an officer role with Tiny Footprints--a fund-raising guild affiliated with Children's Hospital of Seattle. Jennifer and her husband live just outside of Seattle, WA with their twin boys and two dogs in a house full of commotion, laughter and joy.