Fiona the hippo has a message for her fellow preemies
The famous hippo has some good advice "from one preemie to another"
The famous hippo has some good advice "from one preemie to another"
The famous hippo has some good advice "from one preemie to another"
Fiona the hippo has a message for fellow preemie babies, hippo or human.
Along with the Cincinnati Zoo, Fiona penned a touching letter to premature infants at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The world-famous hippopotamus knows what it’s like to arrive in the world earlier than planned. She knows how to beat the odds – and not only survive, but thrive.
Born six months premature at the Cincinnati Zoo in January, Fiona was nursed to health by a dedicated team of caregivers and will celebrate her first birthday on Jan. 22.
In honor of November's Prematurity Awareness Month, the zoo sent preemies copies of the book “Fiona's Feelings” by Dr. John Hutton, along with a personalized note from Fiona.
The note reads:
Dear Little One,
You probably have not heard of me, but I was in a spot like yours not too long ago, just down the road at the Cincinnati Zoo. My mommy, daddy and caretakers were all preparing for me to come into this world, but were not expecting me to arrive so early. I arrived in the world six weeks before they thought I would, the earliest that a hippo has ever been born. And while things could have gone so wrong, it was with the support of my care team and the Cincinnati community that I grew into the big, strong hippo that I am today! They helped me to grow and encouraged me to never give up. And that is a message that I wanted to share with you today. So many people believed in me, and I want you to know that you have so many people (and hippos) who believe in you, who are behind you and who love you more than you can know. So, from one preemie to another, I wanted to wish you well this Prematurity Awareness Month and give you a little hippo love (I'm kind of a celebrity now).”
Love,
Fiona
Premature birth is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five, and the goal of Prematurity Awareness Month is to raise awareness of this serious health crisis.