Page 46 - Journey of Hope by Raymond Moldenhauer

DAY79

ALYSSA'S SCHEDULE

As everyone knows, whenever we anticipate a certain schedule
for Alyssa, she changes it! No sooner had the Neonatologist told
Heidi and Jim this morning that he expects to send Alyssa home
this coming week, that she immediately began to de-saturate –
right in front of him! And, she continued to have regular
de-saturation periods all day. Alyssa also had a bit of trouble
keeping her body temperature where it should be. This journey
is not about a mother’s schedule, a doctor’s schedule, a care
team’s schedule – it is all Alyssa’s schedule. Is anyone placing
bets on the homecoming date? I have chosen June 27 as my
th
best guess!

I flew back from Bermuda today and stopped by the hospital on
my way back from Philadelphia International Airport. As I
entered the NICU, I could see Heidi in the rocking chair,
bottle-feeding Alyssa. She took the full 30 ml of milk, and
seemed to want more. But at this point, the care team still
needs to control the amount until they are totally sure that she
is digesting properly – and has a major bowel movement (which
she has not done yet). I held Alyssa briefly while Heidi was in
the Mother’s Room, but not for very long. Alyssa began to
de-saturate again. So, they gave her a little oxygen and placed
her in her incubator to rest a bit.

After dinner, Heidi did Allyssa’s care, and fed her another 30 ml
of milk. Alyssa was very alert, awake and active now. She was
full of a lot of big smiles in Heidi’s arms as I would touch her
open hand and she would grasp it tight. As I pulled my finger Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost
away, her hand opened up wide. As soon as I touched her palm,
she quickly closed it. We did this for several minutes – she knew being, praise His holy name.
the game we were playing!
Psalms 103:1