Hi, my name is Danielle O'Riordan, with Usborne Books and More. I am a mother of three wonderful children who love to read.
When my three year old son Knox was born, he had some trouble breathing. His whole body was sinking in with every breath. "Boys are tricky, give him time," the nurses said. About 40 minutes later, he was still having a hard time. I brought it back to as attention. My baby was taken for some tests, and he never came back to my room.
For my whole hospital stay the baby was under observation in the nursery. They would not even let me touch him. I had to pump every three hours, around the clock, to keep the hospital supplied with milk. Every time he was interacted with, his oxygen levels would just drop.
I was discharged without my baby. Giving birth feels so empty when you cannot hold your new baby. Failure is the only feeling left here.
In the meantime, my older son was only 2.5, and very confused as to where his new brother was, and why he couldn't hold him like we had prepared him to. Every time Knox had a bottle, his alarms would go off and his oxygen levels dropped. We started to feel like our son would never come home!
When day 4 came by, Knox was showing signs of improvement. A nurse decided, finally, he could handle his first bath. My poor crusty baby still had all his after birth crunchies left in his hair. He was so small and frail. The bath sent him into such disarray that they called the NICU at Umass Memorial, and he was there within hours.
By 8 PM that night, he had a temporarily room and a very friendly staff made me feel as comfortable as I possibly could. When I offered my milk supply, the nurse asked when he was due to eat.
"I don't know. They have not let me feed him." She was shocked.
"Can he not latch?" She asked.
I told her that we nursed at birth just fine but that the nurses hadn't let me touch him whatsoever.
"Would you like to try? " she offered.
I almost cried. Here, this nurse is finally offering my baby to me.
I took him, and nursed him, and he had absolutely no problem.
Knox spent 10 days in the NICU, and those 10 days were some of the most incredibly memorable days I will ever have. The NICU is such a special place. A room full of babies- some are quiet and some cry non stop. Some have families there the whole time, some seem to have no visitors. The staff there is so caring and helpful. Everyone there has a tragedy, they carry silently, never looking at anyone else.
One day, I walked in to a bear and a cup full of chocolates. They had left me my first valentine from my son. I was so wrapped up in my family emergency, I completely forgot it was valentine's day.
The Parent Faculty Advisory Councel had snacks most days, and a woman was there to hang out with my two year old, so I could focus on my baby with no guilt.
We discharged with two beautiful blankets and two books. The books are still favorite bedtime stories in our house.
Today I would like to give back. Knox is a constant reminder to be grateful for your life.
A donation of $20.00 will sponsor one set of books for a baby. I have set my goal for Books for Babies to touch 100 babies. Each baby will receive two books from the drive, Animally and Fold Out Nursury Rhymes. Usborne and More has offered to match at 50% !!!
We can easily raise enough money for 68 babies to receive these books. And Usborne will toss in the additional 34. Which actually is 102 babies but wouldn't that be so nice!!
A donation of $20.00 will sponsor one set of books for a baby. PLEASE spread the word today! These books meant a lot to us when we experienced being in the NICU. I would love to give back. Help us today! Every share or donation helps.
