Aiden spends 5 1/2 months after birth in NICU

When Aiden was born on January 10, 2005, he weighted just 1 pound, 3 ounces, and was one of the smallest (if not THE smallest) baby to be born and survive in the Kingston, Ontario, Canada NICU. Aiden's time in the NICU was a rough one, and he was critically ill for most of his 5 1/2 month stay. He was intubated, and breathed through a ventilator for 77 days, spent time on CPAP, and was eventually even sent home on low flow oxygen. Aiden survived several serious episodes of sepsis, and needed to be recussitated with chest compressions and Epinephrine at least twice by NICU nurses and doctors. You can read the full story of Aiden's time in the NICU in the posting entitled, "Aiden's Discharge Summary."

It is not easy to give birth to a baby and have to leave him in the hospital because he is too sick to come home. It is not easy to see him live in an isolette and not be able to hold him, be intubated, have blood drawn every day, have countless uncomfortable tests performed and to have IV lines, leads and more sticking into every available part of him. It is not easy to see such a wee little person fighting (literally, as those of you who were there know all too well) for their survival every day - and know that that little person is your son. It is also not easy to have someone else be the primary caretaker of your son - to make very important decisions on his behalf, comfort him when he is upset, feed him, change him, talk to him, hold his hand and pat his bum (that one was for you Judy). However, having said all of that, what made our lives bareable for those 5 1/2 months was the caring nurses and doctors in the Kingston NICU. These people were Aiden's family when he was born. They cared for him when he was sick, they held him when he was upset, and they literally saved his life (on a few occassions!). Although it was painfully hard to know that I was only a visitor to Aiden, when we left the NICU for the day we ALWAYS knew that he was in extremely capable and loving hands. We will never forget the amazing people of the NICU, we love you, and you will always be an important part of the story that we tell to Aiden about his birth.

The 5 1/2 months that Aiden spent in the NICU were scary, overwhelming, stressful - and full of hope. And, they were the start of showing us what a strong and determined fighter Aiden truly is - and demonstrated that, even at a very young age, there are some people who have a will to live that is stronger than the odds would give them.