During a normal visit to my doctor I was told that I have very little amniotic fluid but I should not worry, as it might improve, and I should return in a month so we could monitor the fluid.

I decided to go back three weeks later on September 1, 2006, instead just in case. Thank God I did. I was told that I had no amniotic fluid at all and that my baby girl was in distress and we had to deliver immediately or else my baby would not make it to the next week! How devastating for any expecting mom.

We were booked in for an emergency Cesarean the following day. But I decided to get a second opinion and was told the same thing. With no choice I had to go in and deliver the next day.

On September 6 I gave birth to baby girl, Nicoli, who was taken to NICU weighing 810 grams.

She was on the ventilator the first day, and after that she was able to breathe on her own for two weeks. She was breathing through a pipe in her nose and had a huge personality, kicking and crying when being touched!

Then she started having complications over night. She picked up an infection and battled to breathe; her heart failed and stopped; her lungs bled; her whole body was swollen and she was really in a bad way. All I could do was pray for her and her doctors. Her father was there with me every step of the way.

As I write this, she's not out of the woods yet. The doctors are getting in a specialist to drain the fluid to stop the swelling. I'm praying hard for my girl. I've told God how much I want her. I pray for her all the time and have faith she'll come home after the storm is over. Her daddy and mommy love her so much, as do our friends and family.