Baby Laura is 22 years old

When I was pregnant with Laura, I had some problems with the pregnancy. As a result, I had to go on bedrest and eventually into the hospital for the last 4 weeks of the pregnancy. She was born 6 weeks early at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minnespolis, MN. She remained in the hospital for the next 12 days. My Mother-in-Law let me stay at her house in Bloomington, MN and I would drive to the hospital in the morning and stay until late at night. Laura was in the Transition Unit and she had IV's hooked into her. It was a harrowing experience for a new Mom, but I can say that she is healthy and just recentley graduated from College and is doing fine. I am still aware of the fragility of birth and of all the things that could go wrong. I feel for the parents of children who aren't healthy for whatever reason. It's hard enough to raise a child let alone a child with disabilities. I know parents who are in their 80's who are still concerned about their disabled child and worry who will take care of them after they are gone. Chidren in their 50's who are schizophrenic, mentally impaired, head injuries, alcoholism or addictions of other types. We need to help these parents out somehow, by extending a hand and offering to be a friend to their adult child - take them out for coffee or lunch and visit with them, so when their parent does die, they have other adult friends who can be there for them as well.