Prematurely Yours...
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I am eternally grateful for the amazing, compassionate staff of BIDMC’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit! My son Ethan was born three months too soon. Complications that started in my 10th week of pregnancy ultimately caused my water to break at 24 weeks. I was immediately hospitalized at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and put on strict bedrest. Thanks to the vigilant care of the doctors and nurses on the antepartum floor at BIDMC, we were able to buy two more weeks -- two weeks that literally saved my son's life. Ethan was born at 26 weeks gestation (typical pregnancies last 40 weeks), weighing 2 pounds and with lungs so weak, he couldn't even cry. During his first days of life, he had a severe brain hemorrage (IVH), similar to a stroke. He also had a heart condition, and required extensive life support to help him breathe for nearly 9 weeks. Our three months in the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) was an absolute roller coaster ride ... the ups and downs came hourly, daily, weekly. Ethan spent three very long months in the NICU at BIDMC, and came home shortly before his original due date.
While Ethan's beginnings were certainly tenuous, the NICU staff worked skillfully, tirelessly and compassionately to keep him alive, keep him comfortable and keep us informed, involved and cared for in ways unimaginable. Part of caring for Ethan was caring for us; the men and women doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers are part of our family Ethan’s first family and we are forever in debt to them.
Today, Ethan is a happy and healthy six year old he loves kindergarten, soccer, t-ball and playing the piano. His smile lights up the room, and there are days when I am confident that his caring, ‘old-soul’ personality is directly related to the care, warmth and love he had in the NICU from his caregivers.
I am grateful … and because I am grateful, I give back as a volunteer parent mentor for the NICU where I talk to families who are just embarking on a life-changing NICU experience. I still keep in touch with Ethan’s caregivers, and am so excited to have Grateful Nation to thank them personally in a special way!