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Published August 11, 2007 09:42 pm - Danesa Napier was 25 weeks pregnant when she went into labor with twins about a year ago. Her daughter, Ella, weighed 1 pound, 9 ounces, and had a grade-three brain bleed while her brother, Easton, weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. Their survival chances were uncertain. Fast-forward to Saturday, when the twins celebrated their first birthday at a party at the Ronald McDonald House in Joplin. Both children spent 89 days in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, and their parents spent 89 nights at the Ronald McDonald House. Twins celebrate first birthday at Ronald McDonald House By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com Danesa Napier was 25 weeks pregnant when she went into labor with twins about a year ago. Her daughter, Ella, weighed 1 pound, 9 ounces, and had a grade-three brain bleed while her brother, Easton, weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. Their survival chances were uncertain. Fast-forward to Saturday, when the twins celebrated their first birthday at a party at the Ronald McDonald House in Joplin. Both children spent 89 days in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, and their parents spent 89 nights at the Ronald McDonald House. “The doctors said there might be cerebral palsy or brain damage, but Ella is showing no signs of anything,” Danesa Napier said. “We might encounter a few more obstacles, but this year has been wonderful. They have just progressed and done awesome. They’re a little small for babies their age, but that’s to be expected.” During that time, Danesa and her husband, David Napier, were able to stay close by at the Ronald McDonald House, which provides living accommodations for families with children who are in the hospital for an extended time. “We spent every night here because we live in Miami,” said Danesa Napier, who teaches school in Commerce, Okla. “This allowed us to be as close to our babies as possible, and we are so thankful for that.” House manager Tara Horinek said the Napiers’ stay was a lengthy one. “That’s a longer stay than a lot of families,” she said. “Our average length of stay is about 14 days.” Horinek said she remembers the Napiers stayed through Halloween, citing the twins first-place win in the NICU’s costume contest as her memory aid. “She dressed the kids in Build-a-Bear costumes for Halloween,” she said, “because she (Danesa) couldn’t find preemie clothes that fit. It was the cutest thing.” Having a children’s birthday party is a first for the house, Horinek said. “It’s fun to see the progress they’ve made,” she said. “We’ve gotten to know the kids, and David and Danesa while they were here. To see how far they’ve come from a year ago is just amazing.” The Napiers asked guests to make a donation to the charity rather than bring gifts for the kids. 
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