Lake County's Baby Jack Otremba, born 17 ounces, heads home at ...

God bless your family. My granddaughter was premature not as much as Jack but bringing her home with an apnea monitor was scary. She is healthy and happy now 8 years later. I pray that your story is like ours.

I had a baby Joey under exactly the same conditions except that Joey weighed 2# 7oz in 1982. He was the first baby to live at Ohio State with his particular lung problem. Yes, you have a long road in front of you but have faith and keep loving him. Joe didn't catch up with everyone else until he was in high school. At age 26 he has a degree in radio and going back for journalism.

17 oz?

Amazing.

But is it worth the gazillions of bucks that it takes to save VERY premature babies?

Has anyone done a study on the outcomes as far as quality of life for this kids? How many are sentenced to a lifetime of physical and mental problems?

Sure, any parent would be willing to do anything they could to save their child's life.

But at what point to we realize that it isn't in the best interest of the child? I would have thought that 17 ounces would have been border line.

I do hope that he isn't saddled with lifelong problems. I bet there is some purpose in life for that child, and I hope he finds it.

My prayers have been with you in this time. I have some first hand experience with the other side; we lost ours before 25 weeks.

We're cheering for baby Jack; he is truly a miracle.

Sentinel, we appreciate the follow ups on this story!

Wow, 17 oz... I'm sure your family is relieved to have baby Jack home and God Bless!!!

Voice of Reason wrote:

17 oz?
Amazing.
But is it worth the gazillions of bucks that it takes to save VERY premature babies?
Has anyone done a study on the outcomes as far as quality of life for this kids? How many are sentenced to a lifetime of physical and mental problems? I am sure to that childs parents it is worth every dime it took to save him. I am sure he will bring great joy to their lives and you can't put a price on that.
Sure, any parent would be willing to do anything they could to save their child's life.
But at what point to we realize that it isn't in the best interest of the child? I would have thought that 17 ounces would have been border line.
I do hope that he isn't saddled with lifelong problems. I bet there is some purpose in life for that child, and I hope he finds it.

I can't beleive what you wrote I am sure they feel he is worth every penny spent.

Voice of Reason wrote:

17 oz?
Amazing.
But is it worth the gazillions of bucks that it takes to save VERY premature babies?
Has anyone done a study on the outcomes as far as quality of life for this kids? How many are sentenced to a lifetime of physical and mental problems?
Sure, any parent would be willing to do anything they could to save their child's life.
But at what point to we realize that it isn't in the best interest of the child? I would have thought that 17 ounces would have been border line.
I do hope that he isn't saddled with lifelong problems. I bet there is some purpose in life for that child, and I hope he finds it.

I know he is worth more than a gazillion bucks!! Who would think to compare a life to a dollar amount??

I can not believe that any human being would hve the nerve to even think that a human life should be compared to the amount of money it takes to "save" them. What kind of a person even cares the amount of money that is needed to keep them healthy, until they are mature enough to thrive on there own. This is a discrace to human beings to know that any person could worry about money when it comes to saving a beginning life.
Who are you to dare suggest that we are to make the decision who is given the chance to live or die because of the cost!
How many full term children have birth defects for no fault of being born early?
This is a sick day for our society when people are even comparing money to the value of a life.
Money can't love you buddy. Only people and God can. I feel sorry for you. You must have nothing but money to keep you company.

Voice of Reason wrote:

17 oz?
Amazing.
But is it worth the gazillions of bucks that it takes to save VERY premature babies?
Has anyone done a study on the outcomes as far as quality of life for this kids? How many are sentenced to a lifetime of physical and mental problems?
Sure, any parent would be willing to do anything they could to save their child's life.
But at what point to we realize that it isn't in the best interest of the child? I would have thought that 17 ounces would have been border line.
I do hope that he isn't saddled with lifelong problems. I bet there is some purpose in life for that child, and I hope he finds it.

Motherofprematurebaby wrote:

I can not believe that any human being would hve the nerve to even think that a human life should be compared to the amount of money it takes to "save" them. What kind of a person even cares the amount of money that is needed to keep them healthy, until they are mature enough to thrive on there own. This is a discrace to human beings to know that any person could worry about money when it comes to saving a beginning life.
Who are you to dare suggest that we are to make the decision who is given the chance to live or die because of the cost!
How many full term children have birth defects for no fault of being born early?
This is a sick day for our society when people are even comparing money to the value of a life.
Money can't love you buddy. Only people and God can. I feel sorry for you. You must have nothing but money to keep you company. <quoted text>

AMEN

Jack can not be compared to any amount of money. His fight for life gave another mother the will to not abort her twins due to prematurity and they are out of the NICU. I am sure voice of reason would have wanted a chance at life even if it costs a gazillion bucks. Jack has changed my life and he has beat every obstacle that has been in his way. "Voice of reason" should remember that when his or her life is over, the money stays here. It is really in very poor taste to write something so insensitive and you obviously do not have any children. I would not wish these choices we had to make on anyone including you. If you had to walk in our shoes, you'd understand the true REASON Jack is here. By the way, he is normal so far and is enjoying his life.

Jacks Dad wrote:

By the way, he is normal so far and is enjoying his life.

I have been looking for most up to date information on Jack's Status... Looks like I've gotten pretty close. I'm glad to see that he is doing good. I hope that I am able to stay informed... having lost 2 myself, I am cheering on the sidelines for you, your wife, jack, & family. Perhaps you may need to start a website ;)

Out of the many preemie stories out there, this one captivated me for some reason. Jack is special and has a big reason to be here, I have zero doubt in that!

I look forward to hearing more, and if you do decide to create a website or something, I would be real interested in being on your list :)

Sincerely
Stacy Mize (stacymize@comcast.net)

Thank you so much.

The comments on here show that most people are as dumb as tree stumps. They don't have the common sense to realize that unlimited resources should not be used to save the life of anyone! If your unhealthy premature baby dies, there are plenty of very adoptable babies available to replace the deceased. The ultimate fate of the human race depends on strong healthy people passing on their genes. Weak, deformed, sickly premature babies were never meant to survive and pass on their mutant genes.

Stinky wrote:

The comments on here show that most people are as dumb as tree stumps. They don't have the common sense to realize that unlimited resources should not be used to save the life of anyone! If your unhealthy premature baby dies, there are plenty of very adoptable babies available to replace the deceased. The ultimate fate of the human race depends on strong healthy people passing on their genes. Weak, deformed, sickly premature babies were never meant to survive and pass on their mutant genes.

And you will most likely continue to feel this way until someone that YOU love with your entire being gets sick... and then you will see what the valuation of their life is to you. Some people are graced by not having to make those decisions, others have these decisions thrust upon them when they aren't ready. I really hope that you never have to decide whether or not the treatment/healthcare is too expensive for someone you love. I also hope that you never have to defend your decision to insensitive strangers.

You think there are plenty of babies to adopt... You should do some research before just making stuff up. I don't know what world you are from, but there is a waiting list in the United States for babies. My parents were foster parents for like 20 years, and I know first hand from one of the adoptive parents, that they had been on a waiting list for an infant for 7 years. That was back in the 1980's - I hate to think what the waiting list looks like now. Besides, this isn't about someone else's baby (any baby), but about the parents baby - their baby.

If the fate of the human race is strictly dependent on the genes that we allow to survive, I think we all should give strong consideration in deciding what type of human race is worth saving. I certainly hope if any weeding should occur - that we focus on antisocial and sociopathic behaviors.

Stinky, another person had similar thoughts....Hitler.
Humans aren't mutant genes. Should we pull the plug on nursing homes? If you get cancer, should we shoot you?
Another person commenting that doesn't have children at least one that he cares for.

Voice of Reason wrote:

17 oz?
Amazing.
But is it worth the gazillions of bucks that it takes to save VERY premature babies?
Has anyone done a study on the outcomes as far as quality of life for this kids? How many are sentenced to a lifetime of physical and mental problems?
Sure, any parent would be willing to do anything they could to save their child's life.
But at what point to we realize that it isn't in the best interest of the child? I would have thought that 17 ounces would have been border line.
I do hope that he isn't saddled with lifelong problems. I bet there is some purpose in life for that child, and I hope he finds it.

I am a foster parent. I had a little one and a half pound little man, two and a half years ago. He is now adopted and he is the smartest little two year old I have ever been around,, knows all of his colors can count to 50 knows up to one hundred by sight. He is still tiny, at two an a half years old he weighs in at 21 pounds. You son will be fine. God bless him.

Stinky wrote:

The comments on here show that most people are as dumb as tree stumps. They don't have the common sense to realize that unlimited resources should not be used to save the life of anyone! If your unhealthy premature baby dies, there are plenty of very adoptable babies available to replace the deceased. The ultimate fate of the human race depends on strong healthy people passing on their genes. Weak, deformed, sickly premature babies were never meant to survive and pass on their mutant genes.

Stinky is right about one thing... comments do show that people on here are dumb as tree stumps such as himself....
Remember your words when one day you or a loved one are faced with being in the back of an ambulance or helicopter followed by a visit to the ER/ trauma center that those valuable resources are being used to save YOUR life or your loved one's life... but according to your infinite wisdom they shouldnt be used. Then when the in world they should be used?
Also I dont know how you can speak of babies as being mutant.. I guess you dont have children... best advise "stupid people shouldnt breed".. you should definitely take that advise...
By the way this particular baby has more courage and love in his little pinky finger than you do in your entire body.. may God take pitty on your soul as he may be kinder than those you encounter in life with your attitude...

This is typical thinking in our modernist "throw-away" society. Millions of babies are tossed in dumpsters daily by abortionists catering to the self-absorbed "me first" mentality so prevalent in western society.

You may be next, Mr. Voice of Reason, once you become old and thought by some to be a burden on society. First the unborn, then the newly born, then the elderly. Who's next? Any volunteers want to go to the gas chamber for the "good of society" because you are thought to be worthless by some elitist committee? Guess what? It's coming to America with government-run Universal Health care. It already exists in England.

Voice of Reason wrote:

17 oz?
Amazing.
But is it worth the gazillions of bucks that it takes to save VERY premature babies?
Has anyone done a study on the outcomes as far as quality of life for this kids? How many are sentenced to a lifetime of physical and mental problems?
Sure, any parent would be willing to do anything they could to save their child's life.
But at what point to we realize that it isn't in the best interest of the child? I would have thought that 17 ounces would have been border line.
I do hope that he isn't saddled with lifelong problems. I bet there is some purpose in life for that child, and I hope he finds it.