Given a 6 percent chance to survive at birth, Jeff Hackbarth is now a college-bound high school graduate

For many young people, graduation from high school is the culmination of a difficult climb. For Jeff Hackbarth, the most difficult part of the climb was just getting started.

Hackbarth, born three and a half months premature on November 4, 1982, entered the world weighing a mere 1 pound, 9 ounces. He was less than 13 inches long.

Mark Reinertson, M.D., a pediatrician at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, resuscitated Hackbarth and referred him to University of Iowa Children's Hospital at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Doctors estimated he had a six percent chance for survival.

"I believe Jeff was our first 24-week preemie to survive," said Edward Bell, M.D., one of Hackbarth's physicians at University of Iowa Children's Hospital.

Bell, a neonatologist who received the UI College of Medicine's 2001 Faculty Humanism in Medicine Award for his work with medically fragile babies and their families, said the complications included immature lungs, bleeding in his brain, pneumonia, and heart failure from an open fetal blood channel.

Hackbarth spent nearly three months at University of Iowa Children's Hospital, where he began improving under the care of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staff, which included Herman Hein, M.D., and Tami Barrett, R.N. Gradually he began to grow, despite many shaky days and nights.

"It was a difficult time in that I was not able to take care of my baby like other mothers," said Jeff's mother, Nadine. "I was not able to hold him until he was seven days old. The staff at University of Iowa Children's Hospital helped us stay positive. They encouraged us (Nadine and her husband Michael) to help take care of Jeff and to touch and talk to him. They let me give him sponge baths using cotton balls and water. I so enjoyed the chance to have that closeness."

"The Special Care Nurseries team does a great job," Bell said. "Our survival rates are among the highest in the world, and the complication rates are among the lowest. But survival isn't enough. We try very hard to build relationships with families. It's very important to support parents by introducing them to others who have been through what they're going through. This shows them that success is within reach."

Hackbarth left University of Iowa Children's Hospital in January 1983, fought off a few illnesses during his early years, and has been thriving ever since. Today, he is 5 feet, 5 inches and 145 pounds. He was recognized in Who's Who Among American High School Students during his sophomore and junior years at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, made the honor roll for three years, and received an award for perfect attendance during all four years of high school. He graduated May 27, with plans to attend college to major in TV news broadcasting and minor in piano performance.

Since he reached junior high, Hackbarth has written to the NICU staff every year at the holidays, a gesture that Bell said means very much. "The staff gets the feeling they're growing up with me," Hackbarth explained. "They have been a big part of my life and deserve a lot of recognition for what they do."

Patients and families with questions should call the University of Iowa Children's Hospital toll-free number and ask for Ed Bell. For consultation or referral, physicians should call UI Consult.

Physicians at University of Iowa Children's Hospital believe that Patrick "PJ" Roache, born at 22 weeks on April 14, 2000, is the smallest premature boy to have survived in Iowa.

"When Patrick was born, he weighed 15 ounces and had very immature lungs that needed breathing support," said Thomas George, M.D.. a pediatrician. PJ also faced several other health problems, all of which diminished as his body grew larger. Today, PJ is a regular toddler, according to his mother, Patricia. "He weighs over 16 pounds (as of late May), he's walking behind push toys, and he's very happy. I'm grateful to the physicians and nurses at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital--if not for them, PJ wouldn't be here."

High school graduate Jeff Hackbarth cuddles Faith Jackson, infant daughter of Laura and Todd Jackson of Port Byron, Illinois. Like Hackbarth, Jackson weighed a mere 1 pound, 9 ounces at birth. Jackson's twin sister, Hope, also was born premature.