Premature Poem by Elizabeth Lipscomb

october 10,1998

We are born on a cool, late morning
at Abington Hospital, right outside of Philadelphia.
Yes-I said we;
4 babies,2 parents,1 life-changing day.

The OR is filled with a team of doctors and nurses
one for each baby and mom
just in case anything goes wrong
although they said it wouldn't.

This is one of the few moments in life when something is just "for me".

Fluorescent lights fill the room
machines beep and zip and spin
as my mother is cut open
and 4 babies-
1 oldest boy and 3 girls-
are ripped from the womb,
placed in lifesaving incubators,
and rushed to the NICU.

We were supposed to have 3 more months together.
Now, this lonely box is my new home for a while.


We are born to working-class parents in Northeast Philadelphia
both around the age of 40
who finally had a somewhat successful pregnancy
after many years of trying.

Their tiny twin home
3 bedrooms,2.5 bathrooms
now contains
4 cribs
4 babies
2 parents
3 grandparents who moved in to help out
"for a little while",
and an overwhelming amount of diapers and formula.

Although I do not personally remember every detail
about that cool, late morning
at Abington Hospital, right outside of Philadelphia,
I will forever hear stories from
family
friends
strangers
about the Lipscomb's
4 babies,2 parents,1 life-changing day.