Little miracle cruising toward big milestones

Risk factors include diabetes, advanced maternal age and smoking. But in half of all cases, the causes are unknown. Babies born too early at critically low birth weights are vulnerable to a host of medical conditions, such as cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease and vision loss.

Aidan appears to be one of the lucky ones. Since January, he has nearly tripled his weight. He shows no cognitive impairment, and he is learning to talk.

He is also no longer attached to a portable oxygen tank, leaving every nook in the Dows' Redmond home open to exploration.

"You can't possibly childproof enough," his mother said with a laugh.

All outward signs point to a normal life. But the past year also has brought constant reminders of Aidan's perilous beginnings.

He is still highly susceptible to viruses that pose little harm to full-term babies. A simple cold sent Aidan back to Evergreen earlier this year, Brandon Dow said. "His lungs just couldn't kick it," he said. "We pretty much have a VIP pass at that place."

The Dows encountered another surprise in May. Aidan developed a powerful gag reflex as he transitioned to solid foods. Babies who have spent their early days on a ventilator often have the response as a defense mechanism, Lori Dow said.

"The body remembers that invasiveness," she said. So for six months, she and her husband gently ran a special brush inside Aidan's mouth to desensitize him to oral stimulation. Now he happily chows down on Cheerios and grilled-cheese sandwiches.

Aidan's next big milestone is learning how to walk. Six months from now, doctors say, he should be taking his first steps.

That offers little comfort to the family's cats that scamper and hide as Aidan crawls after them, shrieking with delight.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com