3.21.16

Sorry we were late to this posting. Busy feeding the baby. At. Home.

(cue every tear possible to be shed)

We made it to the other side of this NICU journey after 145 days.

We walked into Winthrop a scared 6 month pregnant couple, unsure if our baby would survive and if so, what the future held.  We walked out a strong family of three, still with fears of typical first time parents but ready for the opportunity to love this baby boy and enable him to flourish into the best possible version of himself.

Our micro preemie journey does not end today.  Chapter two begins full of Specialists, At Home early intervention (PT/OT) and the constant worry of something sending us back to the hospital.  But let me tell you — Chapter two is a part of our book we don’t want to fast forward.  Now it’s time to get back all those minutes we didn’t have together from the start.

In perfect irony, after packing into the car for our last drive from the NICU, waving through tear filled eyes to our favorite staff that is now our family, we pull away from the curb and like a sign from all our angels that have guided us along this road…George Michael’s ‘Freedom’ plays on the radio.  And in that moment, no words were needed– we looked at each other and laughed so hard because only the two of us know how crazy, scary, incredible these past 145 days have been.  Cranked the volume up, turned down the windows to feel that fresh air and sped into Chapter two– at 5 mph with the hazard lights on.

To anyone that reads this beginning their journey in a NICU — wake up each day and go.  Whatever happens on that particular day, go to sleep that night and wake up again and go.  Be there for that baby of yours, be there for your partner, be there for yourself. Cry, laugh, and cry again.  Lean on the nurses and doctors.  Accept the help of family and community.  Let go of the wheel and accept this version of your life.  It’s real, that dream you think you’ll wake up from is not your dream.  Head down, go.

To anyone that reads this in the medical field, especially those caring for preemies and critically ill — you are part of this world to do work that many cannot do and were not chosen to.  Your superhero capes are tucked into hospital scrubs but we can see it peaking out and we can feel your strength.  Thank you isn’t powerful enough.  But you know that and you don’t even need to hear it to walk through those doors, sprint to those alarms, hold onto those tiny hands each day.  With ALL our love and gratitude, thank you and we will prove to you that this miracle was worth growing.

To our NICU nursery friends — We all met under extremely scary circumstances and quickly went from strangers at the isolettes next to each other to family.  We are bonded forever because of this experience and could go on and on about the importance of having you in our lives but instead we will ask– do you like hot dogs or cheeseburgers better?  For the reunion…in our backyard…when we’re all ready.  Hand washing and baby loving! We know how to party!!

To our family and friends — Your prayers, thoughts, good vibes put on our shoes each morning and held our hands when we weren’t strong enough.  Jack doesn’t know yet how many people were out there supporting him and in his corner rooting him on but he will.  He will know his full story and that his corner was packed with the strength of a community to take on anything.  And that’s just what you all did.  We are home and it’s because of your constant love and support (along with an incredible amount of medical intervention).  We can’t wait to see you all but as you can imagine, the stakes are pretty high to keep this little one safe and sound so we’ll need to be quarantined for a short time.

 

Final NICU Stats

21 weeks old (actual age) | 5 weeks old (adjusted) 

weight: 4,800 (10 lb 9 oz)| height: 22 inches

Grade IV Brain Bleed, Chronic Lung Disease, Retina of Prematurity, PFO of the heart

This blog will go from a weekly update to every few months progress report as our journey continues on.  We have a lot of playing, loving, kissing, hugging and developing to do now so thank you for following along and see you out there!  We will be the family not taking one moment for granted.