"Forever Grateful"

I have written this many times already in my head and in fact, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you all and given thanks for the role each one of you played in our journey through neonatal care.  Our baby boy, our baby arrived 13 weeks early.  Even though my waters broke at 25 weeks I couldn't fully understand or maybe I was denying acknowledging the changes of him arriving much earlier than I have ever thought possible.  Even after all the preparations and conversations with NICU doctors, nurses and midwives, his arrival two weeks later was a terrible shock.  

Our baby was one month old when he was stable enough to be transferred to NICU Craigavon.  I still remember how scared I was of his transfer and all the changes that would come with that.  Looking back now, I could not be more grateful that we were transferred and given a chance to be closer to our home and for out baby to be looked after another amazing team of doctors and nurses.

I watched through the incubator glass as you cared for him, always ensuring he was a comfortable as possible.  It was clear to see you performed your roles with care and devotion.  We looked on as you delicately used one finger and one thumb to gently lift him, move him, change him and adjust the countless tubes and wires that surrounded him and covered his tiny face.

He as so fragile and vulnerable, like a baby bird that had fallen from its nest, a miracle in a tiny little body.

We listened as you reassured us.  You encouraged us while we learned to do the same as you: how to move him, feed him, how to bathe him and soothe him all within the confines of his incubator and machines that kept him alive.

You stood quietly by our side as we learned how to care for him and how to cuddle him amidst all those terrifying tubes and wires.  Behind every picture of a mother holding her baby in NICU, is an nurse who is keeping a watchful eye.  Despite the sound of those relentless beeps and alarms, we were guided by you, and we learned to keep calm (or at least pretend to keep calm) while his numbers fluctuated, and the machines bonged and alarms sounded.

I listened as you cooed and aah-ed over our baby, calling him beautiful nicknames.  You demonstrated that you would care for him, reassure him and love him when I was not there, and I was unable to be by his side. 

We brought him home after 89 days of hospital stay.

You will each care of so many babies during your careers and you will meet so many families that I am sure you will lose track of their names and faces.  However, I hope you will each understand that every single one of those families will remember your involvement in their lives, forever.  I hope this is a reminder of that.

We shall never forget what you did for our baby.  We are forever indebted to you and feel privileged to have seen our baby grow under your watchful care. With our grateful thanks to you, always.