A Baby’s Fight to Survive, Celebrating World Prematurity Day

Today, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was cloaked in purple as it celebrated World Prematurity Day. Observed globally on November seventeenth, this day honors the strength of premature babies and the families and healthcare workers who support them. This afternoon, parents and healthcare providers gathered for a ceremony highlighting the resilience of the babies that have now left the unit. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Today, little Jonathan Villanueva is almost too big to carry, but just two years ago, he weighed barely a pound and a half. Born at only six months into his mother’s pregnancy, Jonathan was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he spent two long months fighting to survive. His father, Jonathan Villanueva Sr., remembers those weeks as some of the most terrifying moments of his life as a young parent.

 

Jonathan Villanueva, Father

“It’s a lot of challenges and especially when going up from somewhere else to a whole different scenario into Belize City and not knowing anyone or knowing anybody or somewhere to stay or render aid, but then for me it’s been a challenge because, I’m a very young dad, so I never expect this to happen to anyone very young.”

 

Although baby Jonathan still has some health complications, he is growing stronger by the day and continues to impress his parents with his progress. Villanueva is grateful for the hard work of the hospital’s staff for their part in getting his son to where he is now.

 

Jonathan Villanueva

“To be honest, I can’t complain. Everybody’s been so loving, so caring and everybody like she KHMH this and KHMH that, like they treat you bad. But when I came man, it was the best experience I ever had in my life, especially with the nurses and starting from the the birth of the child to the delivery and, all promises. They say, oh, don’t worry Mr. Villanueva, the baby gonna make it. We’re gonna do it for you, you just gotta be strong on you. Keep on fighting.”

 

One in ten babies worldwide is born prematurely and may suffer from health complications. Those that require extra twenty-four-seven care are taken to the NICU, where it is up to the dedicated team of nurses to provide that.

 

Rocio Brown, NICU Nurse

“As nurses, we do the full on care for the baby from when they reach, we have to make sure that the baby’s airways are clear so that intakes may be doing some deep suctioning routine vitals, monitoring the baby throughout the day. It also includes changing the diapers, feeding them throughout the day, everything. So we have to keep a close eye on them to make sure that everything, that they progress so that we can slowly take them off the ventilator.”

 

Eight-month-old Avyannah Slusher is another incredible story of strength and resilience. She spent a month in the NICU, and her mom, first-time parent Nia Thompson, says she’s beyond grateful to the hospital for helping bring her baby home.

 

Nia Thompson, Mother

 “It was nerve-racking. There was just the way she came early. It was a bit nerve-racking, not knowing what could have happened to either her or I. So it was a bit hard thinking back then. It was confusing, nerve-racking, but honestly, KHMH, every single one of the doctors in there, they sat with you, talked to, made you feel heard, made you feel seen. They took care of your babies. Every single one of the staff, they are amazing.”

 

The NICU operates in three levels; Level 3 for the most critical cases and Level 1 for babies almost ready to go home. Nurse Rocio Brown describes the bittersweet joy of sending a healthy baby back into their parents’ arms.

 

Rocio Brown

“We get attached to these babies for sure. I know I do. We look forward, if it’s somebody that we are really attached to we look forward to seeing them, to getting the report from the other nurses, how the baby’s progressing, when the baby’s reach the step down level if they do bcause some of them unfortunately, don’t reach the step down level, when they go home. When the mommy’s preparing them to go home. It’s very rewarding. Especially to see them come back to see how healthy they are.”

Thompson says that while it is scary not being by your baby’s side while they are receiving care, parents must remain strong for their child and have faith that they will push through.

 

Nia Thompson

“Honestly, take it one day at a time. Do not rush it. Do not expect something to happen right away. It takes time. Trust your baby, because your baby will do good. I promise you.”

 

Today, seventeen babies remain in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but they are fighting hard to go home because every baby deserves, no matter how early their arrival, deserves a chance at a future. Britney Gordon for News Five.