Matthew was born in Australia on September 13, 1999 at the Royal Women's Hospital in Carlton Victoria.He was born 13 weeks premature and just 721 grams. Or 1lb 9 oz. Matthew was delivered by emergancy classical c section at 7.27 am.He was very tiny, and had no body fat.The first time I saw him, he was lying  there all hooked up to beeping machines, he was also ventilated and had drips inserted into his tiny arms and legs. He had light therapy to keep him warm, and his whole cot was covered in cling wrap. They removed a section of the wrap so I could see and talk to him. He grabbed my finger with his whole hand, which only come up to the beggining of my fingernail. I had to wait an agonizing 20 days for my first hold. He was literally placed in the cup of my hands, and for the 5 minuts allowed, I cried tears all over his beautiful little head. The fisrt time I saw him cry, there was no sound as he was ventilated. It was heart wrenching, and I cried for and with him.

Matthew was the most adorable creature 
I have ever seen.This long awaited for
baby boy was my little "Matty Man".
This young man become 
"THE LOVE OF MY  LIFE" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew died 206 days later in Hospital .He had a low immune system due to being born too early.He died of infections that are picked up in Hospitals.
I was with Matthew when he died.They removed all drips,ventilators ect.This was the first time I held my son without anything attatched to him.
We watched him grow from this tiny little boy into a chubby little boy.He would do okay sometimes and we held on to the hope that we would bring him home.( his room ready and his xmas tree had been up for months)
I brought him home after he died. I needed to lay next to him and hold him. Just us, with no nurses or Doctors or machines beeping. I am grateful to of had the chance to of done this.It is a very personal choice to make.

Matthew's Father and I seperated three months later, after a 13 1/2 year relationship. We are in occasional contact, usually when it is a remembrance day for Matthew.