Saint Montenegro [UNDER REVISION]

Part 26: Preemies

I watch her being fed by the nurses in her own isolette. She's so fragile and small. As much as I want to take her home and hold her I can't. She needs to stay at the Hospital for a few months bago pa namin siya mauwi. Hindi ko mapigilan maluha sa tuwing nakikita ko ang sitwasyon niya. Kasalanan ko itong lahat. This is my fault.

"You're crying again" narinig ko ang boses ni Saint sa aking likod. Tumalikod ako upang balingan siya.

"I..I'm sorry" I cried

Lumapit ito saakin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. Lalo akong napaiyak sa ginawa niya. My baby is born early than most of the babies. Isa siyang premature baby. a Preemie. Maraming tube ang naka kabit sakanya. To help her eat and breath, at sa tuwing tinitignan ko siya ay ako din ang nahihirapan para sakanya. Kung pwede nga lang ay malipat saakin ang hirap na nararamdaman niya ay ginawa ko na. Araw araw kaming bumibisita ni Saint sa NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) para lamang makita siya. Dito nilalagay ang isang premature baby.

"How many times should I tell you, that it is not your fault? Lagi mo nalang sinisisi ang sarili mo. We have to be strong for her okay?"

I nodded. How can I be strong if I see her suffering?

Umuwu din kami that night. Pagod na pagod ako at hindi ko na masyado naka musta si John. Naiintindihan naman nito kung bakit ako ganito, and I'm so sad to know sa siya pa mismo ang nag aadjust. Humiga na ako sa kama at ipinikit ang aking mata. I prayed and prayed; over and over again for my little daughter Brooke. Sana maging mabuti na ang lahat.

As usual, nagigising ako ng 7 in the morning. I'll take a shower, dress up and pump milk for Matilda. Mas mainam daw ito sabi ng nurse. Idadaan nila ito sakanyang food tube para makain nito dahil hindi pa niya kaya kumain mag isa. Today I decided to bring John, because he's dying to meet her little sister Brooke. Pumayag naman ako dahil hindi ko na ito nakakasama madalas dahil umuuwi lamang ako upang makakain, maka ligo at matulog.

"Ready John?" I asked

he nodded his head smiling "Uhm, I'm excited na Mama! I brought this teddy bear! It's my gift for her" aniya at pinakita saakin ang hawak na maliit na teddy bear.

"Your sister woul love that. Let's go?"

Kumapit ito sa aking kamay at nag lakad na kami palabas kung saan naghihintay si Saint. He'd go to work at kami naman at ihahatid niya kami sa ospital. He'll visit mga hapon na dahil na din sa trabaho niya.

Inalalayan ko muna si John papasok ng kotse sa passenger seat at kinabit ang kanyang seat belt bago ko isara ang pinto.

"Ikaw na bahala sa bahay Andy. Wag kang mag papasok ng kung sinu sino unless kakilala namin okay?" baling ko kay Andy

"Yes po 'te!"

Malayo layo ang biyahe papuntang Ospital. Si John naman ay hindi matigil sa pag kunwento kung ano ang una niyang gagawi kapag nakita niya ang kanyang kapatid. Kakantahan daw niya ito at makikipaglaro sakanya.

We went straight ahead sa NICU at pinuntahan ang sariling isolette ni Brooke. May kwarto pa bago ka makapasok sa mismong isolette nito. Meron itong glass, kung saan pwede mo siyang masilip.

Nang marating namin ito, may nurse na nag approach saamin. She's Marytes, one of the people who're taking care of our little angel. I gave her my pumped breast milk.

"Thank you Miss. This will be a really big help"

"Can we see my daughter?" I asked

"Oh yes of course! Let's go inside"

I held John's little hands with excitement. I've been wanting to do this and now I finally can!

"We're going to see Matilda?" John asked

I nodded with a wide smile on my face, "Yes!"

Pinapasok kami ni Marytes sa loob ng NICU kung nasaan si Brooke. We walked towards her isolette and got her out from it para mahawakan ko siya. Pinaupo nila ako sa isang silya upang makarga ko ng mabuti si Brooke. Unlike other babies, premature babies needs skin-to-skin contact to improve their recovery time and to leave the NICU sooner.

Ibinigay nila saakin si Brooke, she's only wearing a hat and a diaper and placed her on my chest, just underneath my shirt para direkta itong naka dikit sa aking balat. May tube pa din ito na naka dikit sakanyang ilong na kunektado sakanyang stomach.

Lumapit saakin si John, I saw in his eyes how much he wants to touch his little sister but he can't.

"Hi little Matilda. I'm John, your kuya! I promise to be the best kuya in the world! I'll let you play with my toys and watch alot of Harry Potter movies. Pagaling ka Matilda okay?"

We stayed their for a couple of minutes hanggang sa oras na ni Brooke mag pahinga. I gave her to the nurses and watch her being put to sleep. She sleeps on her back para maiwasan ang SIDS o Sudden infant death syndrome.

Lumapit saakin si Marytes, "Ms. Sandoval, Dr. Gomez would like to see you now"

"Sige. Please take care of my daughter Marytes."

She smiled at me, "We will Miss. we will give our best for your daughter"

Sunod namin pinuntahan si Dr. Gomez. Siya ang neonatologist ni Brooke. He's also a friend of Saint kaya naman panatag ang loob ko na nasa mabuting kalagayan ang anak ko.

"Good morning Mary" he greeted, with a playful–boyish grin on his face.

"Good morning too Hans. How are you?" I said and seated at the chair just right infront of him at kinandong nalamang si John.

"I'm fine! Kamusta naman kayo nina Saint?"

"Still adjusting. Mas nagiging busy siya ngayon dahil sa mga bagong projects nila sa company" I replied

"That's good. And about Matilda Brooke Montenegro.. I can say that she's doing fine. Maraming improvements sakanya. And we can say that in a few months you can get her home!"

"T..talaga po? O gosh! Thank you!"

"You're welcome! I'll recomment you to a good friend of mine. She's a respiratory therapist, to help Matilda with her breathing. And you're lucky with your daughter, she's a fighter"

I smiled at him. I know she is! I'm sure Saint would be really happy to hear the news.

*****
Thank you kidshealth.org! Haha