'Am I a mother?' That's what Lauren Helstrom kept asking herself during the first few days of her daughter's life in the neonatal intensive care unit. It's also the title of her upcoming memoir. Helstrom's daughter, Evee, was born at 23 weeks and four days, weighing just 561 grams. She spent the next 130 days at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital in Saskatoon. Helstrom says she wants to raise awareness about premature birth and medical trauma, as it can be an isolating experience for many parents.
