She Barely Made It

The lyrics tell the story of Kimi’s challenging start to life, highlighting both the medical struggles and the resilience she has shown.

Key Themes and Imagery:

1. Early Medical Crisis:

• Kimi was born sickly and premature at her Pawpaw’s house in 1992, with the umbilical cord wrapped around her foot.
• She initially stopped breathing, requiring immediate CPR by paramedics, which saved her life.

1. Premature and Fragile:

• At birth, she weighed only four pounds, ten ounces and had underdeveloped lungs, making her especially vulnerable.
• She was admitted first to Floyd NICU, then transferred to Egleston in Atlanta for specialized care.

1. Serious Heart and Surgical Issues:

• Kimi was diagnosed with two holes in her heart, a narrow aorta, and prematurity-related lung issues.
• She underwent heart surgeries and a fundoplication for stomach issues.

1. Ongoing Health Struggles:

• She experienced numerous bouts of pneumonia, RSV, and asthma, reflecting a lifetime of medical challenges.
• Overall, she has been in and out of hospitals around eighty times, showing both her fragility and resilience.

1. Tone and Style:

• The narrative is personal and heartfelt, combining factual medical details with emotional storytelling.
• It emphasizes both fear and hope, particularly moments like when CPR worked and she began breathing again.
• The chronology—birth, NICU stays, surgeries, repeated hospitalizations—creates a sense of ongoing struggle and perseverance.

Overall Description:

The lyrics are a poignant, real-life account of a child’s medical journey, highlighting resilience, survival, and parental devotion. They convey both the fragility of early life and the courage it takes to face repeated medical challenges, making Kimi’s story both emotional and inspiring.