Parents of Former ‘Micropreemie’ Twins Write A Book Designed To Help
    Others
               
     CARY , N.C. – A North Carolina husband and wife who were thrust into the unfamiliar,
    terrifying world of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) upon the birth of their premature
    twins have written a book to help others in similar situations.

                Nicole Zimmerman and Edward Sprague announce a book designed to help parents
    of “preemies,” their families and friends – as well as healthcare providers who care for these
    children -- to understand and navigate the uncertainty surrounding premature births.

                The NICU Rollercoaster: How to Set Up and Use and Online Blog to Help Survive the
    Ups, Downs, Agonies and Joys of Your Baby’s Stay explains common problems preemies
    face, offers suggestions for coping, and shares the authors’ experiences.  The innovative
    format combines helpful “how to survive” advice with blog entries and blog reader comments.

                For Nicole and her husband, Edward, a seemingly healthy pregnancy took an
    unexpected turn and resulted in the birth of two profoundly, premature babies.  Like so many
    parents of “preemies” or other newborns with medical issues, they suddenly were engulfed by
    the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit system.

                This couple quickly learned the meaning of the “NICU rollercoaster.”  One day
    everything was going well, the next day one of the babies was very sick.  The ups and downs
    were constant and agonizing.  They recount that the 160 days between July 7, 2006 and
    December 14, 2006 were the most emotionally trying times of their lives.

                Comfort came from a surprising source: the Internet, they write.  Not only have
    amazing medical advances reached the NICU, but so has popular culture.  Today, many
    hospitals have computers for patient and family use.  Some hospitals even encourage the
    use of blogs to help patients cope with difficult medical issues.

                In the book they share that the only time they could relax was when they were holding
    their babies or when they were blogging.  Blogging became their main coping mechanism.  
    While there have been books and diaries published about the NICU in the past, this is the first
    time a book of this kind has been published in an interactive blog format.