Friday could not come soon enough. With my appointment at the Stollery not until 2pm I was anxious all morning. My family did their best to distract me at the Muttart Conservatory, but I had only one thing on my mind. I knew I was going to see a NICU for the first time and hear about the process and procedure in a bit more detail, but I didn't know how to mentally prepare myself for that trip.
It all started with meeting the partnering social worker/nurse who would be taking care of our case if we ended up in Edmonton. She explained to me that after my husband and I arrive in Edmonton we would cab directly to the hospital where we would be taken in to meet with her, and quite likely the surgeon, to touch base before our baby goes into surgery. Baby would be taken directly to the NICU upon arrival and once stabilized would go in for surgery. We would be given a pager that would notify us when the operation was over. We won't allowed to watch any part of the surgery (which is probably a good thing, because I don't think I'm strong enough to see that), but the surgeon will meet us in the waiting room directly after the procedure to let us know how it went. According to her it should take about 4-5 hours plus surgery preparation time and recovery. Post-Surgery, baby will be taken to the Cardiac ICU and I believe he stays there for several weeks until he's recovered enough to be sent back to the NICU in Winnipeg. She explained to us where we would be staying, what amenities are near by, what services will be provided for us during our stay, and how to access additional support.
Then it was time to see the NICU.
The first thing I saw as I walked in was a new dad in a rocking chair, hold his tiny baby with all the tubes and wire sticking out. I will never forget the look on his face. A mixture of deep love, concern, and weight.
The unit was set up in 3 isles with about 6 beds in each. There was a hushed tone throughout aside from the beeping of machines, and yet there was a sense of hope in the air. The nurses I saw all seemed very upbeat and when a few of the babies started to cry one of the nurses mentioned how the crying was a good sign.
I try not to dwell on the worry though. As my husband always tells me, if you can't do something to fix it right now, then let it go. And I know that for right now I've been told the stronger I am, the stronger baby is, so on Sunday I did what I had gone to do and ran the half marathon. I was slow. And I was sore (those hills felt like mountains to my prairie legs). But I finished it. 2:28.13. At 26 weeks pregnant (6.5 months) I was quite proud of myself.
"And let us run the with endurance the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:1