Ajudar as famílias a navegar na Jornada da UTIN, um milagre de cada vez.

Sam's journey at Abington Memorial Hospital started when I had gone in for my 20 week ultrasound. I had thankfully gone in during my 19th week of pregnancy and discovered I was dealing with cervical incompetence. Despite an operation, strict bed rest and hospital stays, Sam was born October 5, 2006 at 23 weeks and 5 days. The nursing care while I was in the hospital was remarkably supportive. I had a very special nurse stay with me during labor and I remember her quieting me down through my tears so I could hear Sam crying. A team from the Special Care Nursery was waiting to examine him and take him to the NICU. I was only able to briefly see Sam as they wheeled him away in an incubator never able to touch or hold him.

I remember being wheeled to the NICU a short time later. It was night and I felt like I entered into a science experiment with the dim lights, bells, beeps, and machines everywhere. As all possibly long term NICU parents are told, it was explained to me that Sam's journey would be a roller coaster ride. They delivered on their promise. Sam's 1 lb 8 oz, 11" body did not initially look so bad to me. He was just a super tiny baby. His "honeymoon" period lasted for less than 1 week.

The next several weeks proved to be challenging for Sam and excruciating for me. He had lost weight, was on and off oscillators and ventilators, had many blood transfusions, dealt with serious infections, had laser eye surgery for ROP, and dealt with serious reflux.