Today is Prematurity Awareness Day.
Four years ago today Noah had recently been transferred to HSC Pediatric Center's "Preemie Express" unit. He was on one liter of O2, having recently graduated from Vapotherm, and a Kangaroo pump fed him through his NG tube at 10 CCs/hour. Noah screamed constantly due to his uncontrolled reflux and Methidone and Ativan weaning. He was only calm when I was able to drive the 3 hours each day to be with him. Noah's hearing loss had progressed to the point that the only sound he responded to was the loud, low beep of an unhappy monitor, and his exotropia and nystagmus made it nearly impossible for him to focus his eyes. Months of heavy ventilator tubing weighing him down left Noah unable to turn his head from side to side. Noah was nearly 6 months old, but the only time he had been out of a hospital was for 1 medflight and 1 ambulance ride.
Although some preemies have an easier time than Noah, prematurity is never easy.
November 17, 2005
