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Show TIMES April 17, 2008 Smallest baby, big survivor T O 60TNf1lf»STfcA / 1948-QOO8 J]l Postmark celebrates Air Force Reserve anniversary Air Force Reserve Command News Service D ERIN HOOLEY/Standard-Examiner Beth Ann and Adam Schumacher place daughter Rachael Ann's hands into her farewell cake at McKay-Dee Hospital Center in Ogden on April 4. Rachael Anne was born 3 1/2 months early and spent six months in the hospital. She is now about 10 times her birth size. ^ <•* , Airman and his wife bring home their tough little fighter BY JORDAN MUHLESTEIN Standard-Examiner staff jmuhlestein@standard.net O GDEN — The smallest baby ever to survive at McKayDee Hospital Center went home April 4 for the first time since her Oct. 8 birth. Rachael Ann Schumacher, now 180 days old, weighed 13 ounces and was 10 1/2 inches long when she was born at 24 weeks and 4 days. A full-term pregnancy is about 40 weeks. Now, at 19 1/2 inches and 8 pounds, 12 ounces, she smiles and coos at her parents, Adam and Beth Schumacher, of Roy. Rachael was born by Caesarian section after doctors detected she hadn't grown in Beth's womb for a couple weeks. The baby's difficulties may be related to Beth's history of liver problems: She underwent a liver transplant in 2005. Rachael obviously still had a lot of developing left to do when she was born. "The best way to describe it is, everything between her cowlick and her toenails was not ready to be out of the womb," said Dr. Michael Clark, a neonatologist at the hospital. She was given a breathing tube and Part of Team Hi ! Adam Schumacher is a staff sergeant and a computer pjpgiammer for the 75th Communications Group (Provisional). He has been in the Air Force for 4 years and 11 months and has worked on base for the majority of that time. During the time his daughter was in the hospital, he said the base was supportive of him and his family. "People throughout the base gave us about $1,000 worth of gifts and gift cards," Sgt. Schumacher said. "We're really thankful for what everyone did." got medicines and nutrients through intravenous tubes inserted into her - umbilical cord, he said. One of the biggest challenges was when Rachael developed a condition called chylothorax, a leakage from the lymph nodes into the chest cavity, Clark said. The condition made it so Rachael could not eat anything, requiring intravenous feeding, he said. She was treated for chylothorax for more than a month. "It was the worst few weeks of my life," Beth said. "I ran out of the room crying at one point." *>; Beth and Adam said the McKay-Dee Hospital Center Newborn Intensive Oare-Unit staff ensured Rachael's success by providing good medical treatment as well as emotional support. "All the doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners have been wonderful," Beth said. "This could have been a horrible time for us, but people were here to help." Rachael has improved steadily over the past couple months, despite still having breathing problems up until about three weeks ago, Beth said. Brain scans and vision and hearing tests have shown she is developing well. "As best as we can tell, she is expected to be completely normal," Clark said. "It is remarkable." Beth said she is excited to see her daughter feeling well. "Now she's acting like a baby and not some medical project." Adam said he looks forward to spending more than an hour a day with his daughter. "The hardest time was when we had to leave and she was still awake looking at us," he said. "Now we can stay with her all the time." OBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. — The U.S. Postal Service is helping the Air Force Reserve celebrate its 60th anniversary with a commemorative pictorial cancellation that goes into circulation April 14. A pictorial cancellation is a unique postmark offered by the Postal Service for special events. Maj. Tbdd Copley of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base worked with the post office in Marietta, Ga, to design the stamp. A postal cancellation, first used in the 1840s, is one method of marking stamps at a postal facility so that they can be used only once. See POSTMARK I page 10 Air Force Reserve Anniversary reflects proud past, future BY LT. GEN. JOHN A. BRADLEY Commander of Air Force Reserve Command W ASHINGTON — The Air Force Reserve was formally established April 14, 1948, and Air Force reservists have served proudly and with great distinction ever since. Today, responding to a variety of threats to our national security and fighting a global war on terrorism, we serve with the same courage, commitment and confidence that defined us in our first years. Sixty years ago, President Harry Truman envisioned a reserve program similar to one in World War I, where reservists stood ready as replacements during a wartime mobilization. As we reflect on our esteemed heritage, we must never forget the visionary leaders who shaped the fledgling Air Force Reserve. Generals George Stratemeyer, Elwood See REMARKS I page 10 7 Unbelievable but true makes one entertaining movie in 'Charlie Wilsons War BY STEVE SALLES Standard-Examiner movie critic T he most amazing thing about "Charlie Wilson's War" is that one Texas congressman, a wealthy Houston socialite and a frumpy CIA agent managed to pull off a covert war that eventually led to the demise of the Soviet empire. If it weren't so shockingly true, it would be written off as another Hollywood stretch of the imagination. Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) was a charismatic lawmaker who appreciated a good time and a good scotch, but he was troubled by what he saw going on in Afghanistan. It was also troubling to Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts), who initially suggested to Wilson that he was in a unique position in Congress. He was part of a committee that funded secret covert operations with the CIA. He could funnel millions in aid through inter- mediaries and no one would be the wiser. Scary, isn't it? CIA division chief Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) had the contacts in the Middle East. He made it all happen with the money Wilson was able to get — absolutely unbelievable and all of it true. The best part is these seasoned actors stroll through these characters like a walk in a park on a summer day. Tom Hanks shows a frisky side here, keeping in mind this is the early '80s. He is a bit of a playboy, but it's fun to watch. As is Julia Roberts, who uses her extensive talents to sell this powerful woman's charm. And then there's Philip Seymour Hoffman. This guy continues to dazzle in every movie he's in. He's great in this. He's a wonderful character actor with no fear. Good Time Charlie Productions The combination elevates "Charlie Wilson's War" to the must-see level, not only for its histor- Tom Hanks is Charlie Wilson in director Mike Nichol's "Charlie ical significance, but just to watch these people Wilson's War/' a movie based on the efforts of a U.S. congressman to work together so flawlessly. defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan based on real events. |