Leaving the NICU

Dec 2, 2011 -After 39 days in the NICU, Jacob has moved out to the general surgery floor.  It has been a long awaited event that Katy and I have been hoping for since the day Jacob was born.  It means we are one step closer to coming home. However, when the day had finally come that the doctors mentioned the floor, we both found ourselves with increased anxiety.  We had become so comfortable with every part of the NICU and were not feeling ready for the floor. Everyone has forewarned, "Oh, wait until you get to the floor" when we told them how much we enjoyed the NICU. Everyone said going to the floor is an eye opening experience and a big adjustment.

In the NICU, the nurses adored Jacob. They usually had Jacob, or at most only one other baby to care for. We knew the routines, the nurses behaviors, and where to find the supplies and answers we needed. Most importantly, everyone knew his cares, his needs, and his likes and dislikes. At first, we dreaded going to the floor as we learned the nurses cover 3-4 patients, may not be as vigilant, and they didn't know our precious boy! The rooms are spread further apart and we feared if we were away they wouldn't hear his little cry. After long talks with the NICU and surgical teams, we found our anxieties subsiding. 

This morning I woke up excited knowing that today was Jacob's big day. I attended rounds to hear from the doctors what Jacob's plans were as Katy was in Puyallup talking to Landon and Hazel's doctors to find out what has been bothering them the past few weeks. It was hard to be at Jacob's beside and making decisions alone after nearly 40 days and 40 nights with Katy's support.  I, of course, called Katy to inform her of the events, so she could feel as if she wasn't being left behind again.

Ready to leave the NICU

By three o'clock all of Jacob's belongings, including Katy's four bins of frozen breast milk, were packed under his crib.  The few nurses working today were ecstatic that he was graduating to the floor, even the NICU desk clerks were excited for Jacob. I had the same eerie feeling as we paraded down the same corridor as surgery day. This time it was just him, his crib, a nurse, and myself; no life support, respiratory therapist, nurses, doctors, or machines necessary.

Graduating from the NICU

His new home is a bigger room with a gigantic window.  Jacob (and Katy & I) will have natural light in the room for the first time in 37 days!  We'll actually know if it's day or night, rain or...well rain, here in Seattle. There is a sleeper couch, a rocker, and a TV for our comfort and enjoyment. Jacob even watched a little of the Pac-12 Championship football game before falling asleep in my arms. There is a lot more activity on the floor than the NICU has had lately. The nurses seem to be on top of Jacob's care, but seem shocked that I did most if it before they came around. Katy and I not only spent the past 39 days watching and learning everything about Jacob, but also about his basic cares.

Jacob's new home

I had a nice long talk with Jacob's surgeon, Dr. Avansino. He and his staff are very happy with Jacob's progress so far.  In terms of CDH, every child's needs are different.  Dr. Avansino has seen many cases, and at the onset of Jacob's condition he believed we would have a much longer road in the NICU.  He said time and time again how amazed he was with Jacob's turn around from being so extremely critical in those first 24 hours. He also mentioned that being on the floor doesn't ensure coming home anytime soon.