On February 20, 2002 at 7:08 PM, Asa Carney Bookout came bottom first into the world weighing 2lbs. 14 oz. He could not cry. I did not get to see him. The NICU team was so involved in Asa's care, they forgot to show him to me before they took him to the NICU. Dr. Payne was obviously disgusted by this. I'm sure it was because no one expected him to live for me to see him.

Asa had other ideas. While I lay trying to die, he did amazing things. The amnio came back showing no chromosome anomalies. The Dr.'s were so certain he had a trisomy, the test was repeated three times. On his third day of life, Dr. Darrel Hermann, insisted he was ready for his surgery. He was. He stayed on the vent for 4 weeks after, but came through beautifully.

At 5 weeks old his heart needed help. He was transferred to children's for his BT shunt. We almost lost him there, but again Asa came through wonderfully.

After 92 days in the NICU, a nissen and a gastrostomy tube, Asa came home on oxygen, two monitors, and a feeding pump on May 23, 2002.

Why Was Asa Born Early?