I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my last post. So many things have happened to keep me from this journal. The happiest news is the birth of my first great-granddaughter, Linda Elenita! She was born on August 27th, five weeks early so she’s been in the NICU until now. Tomorrow she’s being released and our family is thrilled.
She’s not the first in our family to be a preemie. Our granddaughter, Kayla who was born 18 months ago to Linda Elena’s granddad was also a preemie. We’ve prayed and watched Kayla fill out from an incredibly tiny baby to an active inquisitive toddler that no one can tell was a preemie. Kayla gave her sister, Gabby, hope that Linda Elenita would also thrive.
Ironically, my fourth child, Adam the father and grandfather of both babies was a preemie himself and was not expected to live. Our pediatrician baptized him, he was that sure that Adam wouldn’t pull through. Having lost our second baby, Karin, to hyline membrane disease in 1965, I wasn’t about to lose another one. Dr. Allari and his wife later became Adam’s godparents in an “official” baptism ceremony. To look at Adam now, one wouldn’t believe that he’d been a preemie. He’s a towering 6′ 7” tall and fills a room when he walks in.
My nephew Nick and his wife had a very early preemie, Jacobi who weighed less than a few pounds when he was born. I visited Jacobi in the NICU when he was a couple of weeks old and wrote a poem about him. Later, I rewrote the poem for Gabby’s half brother Antonio and now I’ve reworked it for Linda Elenita. You can read the poem here.
I am so grateful that medicine has progressed so far to ensure that these little ones can survive. In the sixties, there was not much they could do. Even President Kennedy and Jackie lost their last baby to hyline membrane disease.
Seeing these precious little ones that share the NICU with Linda Elenita, is seeing a miracle and I’m eternally grateful.
Linda Elenita, ready to go home!