| NICU |
You never expect when you are pregnant that something will go
wrong. At least I never did. It had taken my husband and I two years
to conceive a child. We were very excited until the day I woke up and
my water had broke at 23 weeks.We were scared for the life of our
unborn son. After being in the hospital for two weeks Matthew was
born at 25 weeks. He weighed a mere 1 pound, 10 1/2 ounces and was
13 1/4 inches long. He was immediately intubated so that he didn't
have to work so hard to breath because his lungs were still
underdeveloped.
When I first saw Matthew he looked like a little broken doll that
somebody had stuck a lot of tubes and wires in here and there. I soon
learned what each of those tubes and wires were for, what sound they
made on the monitors and what it meant if they did. I lived for the day
that I could hold my son.It Finally came, It felt like I was holding a
little helpless kitten that needed a lot of love.
Each day Matthew got stronger and bigger. We had our one step
forward and three step back days. Those days included Staph infections
and an Intestinal infection(NEC)which can be life threatening. These
infections made us feel that our baby boy would never come home.
Even with the steps back we kept hoping and praying that our little
boy would be home soon in our loving arms. We went everyday to see
him no matter how depressed and mentally and physically tired we got.
We learned how to change his diapers, take his temperature, bathe
him and my personal favorite, Kangeroo him. I loved the days when I
got to hold him for more than five minutes.
Finally the day came when we could take Matthew home. We were
excited, scared and wondering if we could do it without the doctors and
nurses. Matthew came home on oxygen and an apnea monitor. He also
came home with six different medications and breathing treatments
three times a day.Matthew still had some problems and delays, But he
had a smile for everyone.
wrong. At least I never did. It had taken my husband and I two years
to conceive a child. We were very excited until the day I woke up and
my water had broke at 23 weeks.We were scared for the life of our
unborn son. After being in the hospital for two weeks Matthew was
born at 25 weeks. He weighed a mere 1 pound, 10 1/2 ounces and was
13 1/4 inches long. He was immediately intubated so that he didn't
have to work so hard to breath because his lungs were still
underdeveloped.
When I first saw Matthew he looked like a little broken doll that
somebody had stuck a lot of tubes and wires in here and there. I soon
learned what each of those tubes and wires were for, what sound they
made on the monitors and what it meant if they did. I lived for the day
that I could hold my son.It Finally came, It felt like I was holding a
little helpless kitten that needed a lot of love.
Each day Matthew got stronger and bigger. We had our one step
forward and three step back days. Those days included Staph infections
and an Intestinal infection(NEC)which can be life threatening. These
infections made us feel that our baby boy would never come home.
Even with the steps back we kept hoping and praying that our little
boy would be home soon in our loving arms. We went everyday to see
him no matter how depressed and mentally and physically tired we got.
We learned how to change his diapers, take his temperature, bathe
him and my personal favorite, Kangeroo him. I loved the days when I
got to hold him for more than five minutes.
Finally the day came when we could take Matthew home. We were
excited, scared and wondering if we could do it without the doctors and
nurses. Matthew came home on oxygen and an apnea monitor. He also
came home with six different medications and breathing treatments
three times a day.Matthew still had some problems and delays, But he
had a smile for everyone.
| To My Nurses, I'll Always Love You Thank You for getting me through the NICU |
King James Version
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
7. But we were gentle among you, even as a NURSE
cherisheth her children 8. So being affectionately
desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted
unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our
own Souls, because ye were dear unto us...
cherisheth her children 8. So being affectionately
desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted
unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our
own Souls, because ye were dear unto us...
| Thanks Also, to those Nurses not Pictured GOD BLESS YOU ALL! |
| Miami Valley Hospital |
| Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit |
| Matthew's Story |
| By Dawn Vinson |