Last year, I wrote a post a day for Prematurity Awareness Month. On Prematurity Awareness Day, I wrote a post titled “Why Have Prematurity Awareness Day (or Month)? This year, I’ve stared at a blank screen for nights. I tell myself that I’m waiting for a muse of fire.
If the truth be known, I’m sick and tired of prematurity. Two and a half years after Charlie’s early arrival, not a day goes by that it does not impact my life in some way. Additionally, I think about it several times a day.
No, I’m not obsessive. It’s just that my life revolves around prematurity.
For starters, I am constantly problem solving with doctors, therapists, nurses, and pharmacies. Then, there is the hassle of social services. Charlie’s medicaid waiver should have been decided months ago. Plus, the insurance company likes to waste my time with automatic denials or by providing misleading information. That’s just the obvious stuff.
Prematurity creeps into my “regular” parenting life. If I hear a cough, I cringe and make a quick escape with Charlie. No need to challenge those preemie lungs. Feeding… oh goodness… let’s not get into feeding. During play, I watch to see if her pincer grasp is improving, if a heel strike will miraculously appear while she’s walking, and if she favors her left side as usual.
Currently, I’m stressed about Charlie’s upcoming MRI because it has to be performed under sedation with all the risks it entails. Additionally, I’m trying to schedule her new AFOs (yes, she’s being prescribed orthotics AGAIN) before the end of the year since our deductible has been met. On top of it all, meal time is a juggling act of mentally calculating her caloric intake while coaxing her to eat.
Truly, I think about prematurity many times a day. My brain refuses to contemplate it further and my thoughts about it have been tapped out.
But, that’s why I need to write about it. If, for anything, so that our story is told.
So that people don’t make the mistake of thinking that preemies are just small babies. So that people don’t believe that babies come home from the NICU and are suddenly “fine”. So that people know that some preemies don’t ever catch up and some never come home.
We can do better.
For example, we can fund more research, lobby for better health care policies, and educate more people. By doing so, we can improve the lives of these babies and of parents like me.
I’m very hopeful about Charlie’s future, but I’m tired of prematurity. Everyone else should be tired of it too. Let’s do something about it.
November 3rd, 2014 at 10:28 PM
I always think…that I would love to have just one day…just one day, where prematurity doesn’t enter my mind in some way. It hasn’t happened yet. 4 years later. I want everyone to know about it and care about it and help make it go away. But I also don’t want to think about it anymore. Endless, vicious cycle.
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November 3rd, 2014 at 10:32 PM
I couldn’t agree more. Hugs to you as we get through this together.
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November 4th, 2014 at 11:42 PM
Such a wonderful post. You are absolutely right – preemies are not just “small babies” and the more people who know that, the better. I recently spent three days in hospital with my daughter for what I thought was shunt malfunction. Turned out to just be a run-of-the-mill virus and dehydration. Some days I wonder if I will ever be able to see her sick and not want to rush to the ER to have a head CT. Thanks for writing this.
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November 7th, 2014 at 9:18 PM
It’s hard to not be consumed by a child’s special needs. And it’s okay to wish for things to be different and to write about how you feel. Thanks for adding this very transparent post to the DifferentDream.com Tuesday link up.
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August 4th, 2020 at 3:21 AM
all the best mama Charlie,so inspiring!
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