A Guiding Hand for Families in Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 50
Special Care Nursery (SCN)
A Dad’s Story:
James
“
As a premmie parent, I wear my children’s medical history as a badge
of honour to their fortitude, courage and strength to survive, “surely
they must be a chip off the old block”. I’ve learnt a lot of medical terms
along the way and I use this new found (but limited) knowledge to
qualify myself amongst the medical professionals.
My twin girls, Aurelia and Indiana, arrived early. They overcame many
hurdles, chronic lung disease, surgical closure of PDA, self-closing ASD,
hospitalisation for Influenza A and Bronchiolitis… a completely normal
‘premmie’ start to life. Twins have a club of their own and apparently
membership is granted automatically. Members have introduced
themselves to me in all manner of places. “Are they twins? I have twins,
they’re older now…” and here starts the conversation. It’s one of those
things you have to experience to understand, just like having a premmie.
There is something special about our premmie membership though, for
me it’s a deeper appreciation of what we have experienced, what we have
survived and what we have gained.
We are very positive about our experience. Sure it has been tough.
There are pressures the average father doesn’t experience.
How do you manage a career? What if you run
out of sick leave? If like me, you have older children,
who will pick them up from school and do the after
school activity taxi run? Am I dividing my time
correctly? How do I balance work and hospital? How
do I stay positive, be the family pillar of strength,
when everyone else is crumbling? How do I deal
with the sleep deprivation without exploding over
the smallest of things? As dad’s (and mum’s) with
premmie membership, these are our challenges.
What I can tell you though is that to me, my kids are my angels. They are
always smiling, Aurelia calls out “Daddy, Daddy” when I arrive home from
work and Indy gives the best sloppy kisses. Is it possible to be inspired by a
two year old…..you bet it is! Being part of our club is inspiring and being a
premmie father is a privilege.
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
47
