La Chenille (Prince Harry)

Chapter Seven

       

Evee marched along the headnurse through the corridors of the Emma hospital in central Amsterdam. She ignored the clicking sounds of the photographers in the background, trying to capture every single moment. She hoped sincerely that the children wouldn't get scared of the big massive cameras. She was in her element really, she could speak to the children in their native language. Harry strolled behind her, talking to another nurse. He was casually wearing some brown pants and a tucked in blue shirt.

For once Evee wished she was the young blonde nurse in the scrubs, nervously scratching the back of her head as she stared at the royal couple. The head nurse and the head of the administration department had introduced Harry and her to the staff, shaking everybody's hand as they bowed their heads slightly at the both of them. "This is the NICU, the neonatal intensive care unit." An elder woman, who introduced herself as Carine, spoke. "We will have to ask you to wash your hands and disinfect them."

Evee smiled, taking off her jewellery, including her engagement ring and wedding band to wash her hands. She carefully gave both to Bobby, who lingered around behind her. "Of course."

The Duchess noticed that almost all of the cameras stayed behind, only two could enter the room alongside the couple . One of them was the professional photographer for Kensington Palace, whom travelled along on this trip, updating the world every day on their whereabouts. The blonde strolled next to her husband, both of them eyeing the many incubators.

"Neonatology and NICUs have greatly increased the survival of very low birth-weight and extremely premature infants. In the era before NICUs, infants of birth weight less than 1400 grams or 3 lb, usually about 30 weeks gestation, rarely survived." Carine smiled, informing the couple.  "Today, infants of 500 grams at 26 weeks have a fair chance of survival."

The headnurse introduced the staff towards the royal couple, "We have a very multidisciplinary staff. We have nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, resident physicians, respiratory therapists and dietitians."

"That's astonishing." Harry smiled, shaking everybody's hands. Evee noticed her husband's eyes wondering  towards the many incubators, she knew him well enough to see the slight hint of worry on his face. "Most of these babies are premature births, right?"

Evee listened intensely as one of the nurses, nodded her head, "Yes, but some of these babies are from higher-order multiple births."

"This must be very hard for the parents, not being able to touch your child in the way you want to." The blonde stood next to Harry, trying not to keep the best poker face as possible.

"The NICU environment provides challenges as well as benefits." The nurse replied to the Duchess. "Stressors for the infants can include continual light, a high level of noise, separation from their mothers, reduced physical contact, painful procedures, and interference with the opportunity to breastfeed."

Evee noticed a little baby in the background, she noticed the many wires and intubation tube. One of the staff members saw the couple looking at the baby and immediately interfered, "This little guy weighs 35 ounces, he's 32 weeks old now."

Harry stepped a little closer towards the incubator, leaning forward to eye the small creature inside of it. It was actually quite awake, trying to open his eyes at the couple staring down on him. His small hands waved, ignoring the many wires attached to it. "He's so tiny." Harry mumbled, still staring at the baby.

"Samuel has actually grown quite a bit already." The nurse smiled.

"His name is Samuel?" Harry questioned, looking at the older nurse.