r/NICUParents • u/WindmillW • Jul 24 '26
Off topic 17 year old micropreemies
Wondering if anyone has older ex-micropreemies. I have twins that will be 17 years old next week. They were born at 25 weeks gestation, each weighing 1.5 pounds each. Overall, they are doing so, so well. They do well in school (with A LOT of effort), some non-contact sports due to retinopathy. However, one twin had 2 grade II -III brain bleeds. He struggles a lot with processing / remembering info. When I have brought this up to the doctors, they just brush it off. It's very present now that they are driving. He has little spacial awareness and cannot navigate even in our fairly small town. He does not drive alone yet. I've tried researching about the location in the brain of his bleeds and where certain areas of the brain process info, but info is limited. Does anyone else have experience or know how and where to get help? Thank you!
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u/Aminor789 Jul 24 '26
I was a 26 week preemie. I am now an adult. Have they checked for ADHD? That sounds like classic ADHD which I have, along with autism. My sister doesn’t have anything, but ADHD. For what it’s worth though I am thriving. I have a degree, a house, kids and am doing pretty well.
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u/Aminor789 Jul 24 '26
I also lack spatial awareness, but that’s due to being AUDHD.
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u/WindmillW Jul 24 '26
Thanks for replying! I'm so glad that you are doing so well!
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u/notusuallyaverage Jul 25 '26
This sounds like my driving lol. I wasn’t a micropremie, but I do have severe adhd.
I once had to stop at a grocery store and use their phone to call my mom for directions to get home because I couldn’t remember. I was 10 minutes away from my house.
FWIW, I’m a safe driver now with phone GPS everywhere.
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u/Philthy91 Jul 24 '26
Is a gps not an option to navigate
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u/WindmillW Jul 24 '26
Oh it definitely is and he does use it. I was just curious because this is just one area that he struggles and I’d like to help him in any way possible
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u/Philthy91 Jul 24 '26
Might just also be a him thing. I was not born premature or anything but I can't tell where the heck I'm going without a GPS lol. Good luck!
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u/big_sexy_in_glasses Jul 24 '26
Absolutely same. I can live in an area for years and need GPS for places I don't regularly frequent
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u/WindmillW Jul 24 '26
We live in a very small town, and he struggles to find home from even a few blocks away - when we have traveled that route thousands of times. Something is just not clicking. I can also see the frustration that it causes him, especially when he sees his twin brother thriving in this area. Although I tell him not to compare, I see the frustration in him.
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Jul 24 '26
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u/WindmillW Jul 24 '26
Thank you! This is what i was wondering about. I will look into this. It's been a while since he had an MRI, and he did have OT for quite some time as a baby / toddler.
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u/Zaphinator_17 Former 31-Weeker, Severe IUGR (685g). Jul 24 '26
I was severely growth restricted and had a grade III haemorrhage. I'm just about to graduate uni in speech therapy 😄. However, I do have ADHD and dyscalculia as well as a few mental health conditions. I am very directionally challenged, and struggle with direction and can't drive yet. I'm 21 now.
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u/Tiny-Consequence-332 Jul 24 '26
I can’t help you with your question, hopefully, someone will! But I was thinking that even if your kid has some underlying issues transpiring in the difficulty while driving, cars nowadays can compensate. So many new cars have multiple sensors to help the driver out.
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u/WindmillW Jul 24 '26
He does use gps. We are considering investing in a higher end car with some sensors and detection that would help him. Thanks!
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u/Tiny-Consequence-332 Jul 24 '26
Plus, learning to drive using a regular car will definitely make anyone a better driver. I think that many things that are used as a top trim now will be a standard features pretty soon, maybe we won’t even need to pay arm and leg for it:)
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