Is this upsetting to anyone else?

[Gompers]

Good Morning America had a feature about a "miracle" baby that just went home from the hospital. She was 15 ounces and is now TWO YEARS OLD and finally going home. She is trached, vented, and appears to be severely developmentally delayed. The thing that bothers me is that they're very excited to show this baby at home and the mom is talking about how WRONG the doctors were that told her the baby would never live, etc. They're calling her a miracle and going on and on about how wonderful it is.

I just don't think this is the kind of thing I'd call a miracle. I mean, it does give a more realistic view about what saving a micropreemie means sometimes compared to those true miracle babies that were 300 grams and are now doing absolutely fine. But something about this news story just really really bothers me.

Anyone else???

http://video.aol.com/video/tiny-baby-comes-home/1901089

(If the video doesn't come up, type "miracle baby" in the search box and it'll be the first video - don't know why the link doesn't always work...)

[justjenny]

A healthy miracle baby, huh.

Blind, probably deaf, trached with a vent, g tube, shunt, crap lungs she will outgrow, 2 yrs old the size of my son at 7 months old, no head/neck control and mom holding her tight to keep her from arching on camera.

What I wish we could do is petition the media. Over 1,000 people have viewed this thread so far...if each one sent an email MAYBE the media would take notice. Any media outlet running crazy stories like these should be FLOODED with emails from NURSES who have cared for babies like these to give the real story.

No one blames a mother for loving her child and being happy that she is finally home where she belongs, but this child has already and will continue to live a painful life full of invasive procedures and when her lungs finally give out she will literally suffocate in front of her family before passing away. This mom struck me as being glad that she could wave this child in front of the doctors faces "Nah, nah, see...I was right and YOU WERE WRONG."

I am the FIRST person to say to each and every child like this "Go ahead sweetie - PROVE ME WRONG" but I have yet to see any child do more than live a couple years longer than predicted and no more. Some never look peaceful until after they finally pass on and that anxious "air hungry" look in their eyes is finally gone.

So sad!

Jenny

[nursey04]

I find this story terribly upsetting. I hope my response does not offend anyone, but this child has not survived because of god. This child has survived because of extreme medical intervention. Take away the feeding tube and vent and she would not be able to survive. I am the mother of 2 NICU babies and know the feeling of just wanting your child survive. Initially that is all you want no matter what. You can't see the long term in the beginning, but this mom has had 2 years of watching that poor child probably go through multiple medical procedures.

The media should not portray this child as a miracle. I remember when my kids were in the NICU. I would get so mad about the Cabbage Patch preemie dolls and say "they should come with a vent and feeding tube". I would also get so mad at sit coms, like Roseanne, where Darlene delivered a supposed 28weeker who was fine.

I guess I've gone on enough. I am happy to say I have 2 true miracle children. I was told neither would live and then if they did they would have seizures, dev. delays etc. I'm happy to say that they are both healthy. My son has developmental delays and severe learning disabilites but it could be much worse. My daughter is absolutely fine!

Sharon

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

We shouldn't always do all that can be done to save a life. I see that done when it shouldn't be in my job, geriatric LTC, all the time.

[Kiwimid]

If that baby ever even just rolls over unassisted, that will be a miracle. Poor wee thing and the mother should be screened for post natal depression or something because she is being completely unrealisitic. So sad. Her baby isnt going to walk or run like she hopes. The mother is setting herself up for alot of dissapointment. I really felt for the nurse too, i can imadgine she thinks that this isnt a miracle and can be a bit more objective than the mother. She even made a bit of a slip up on camera about the baby being "here" so long, and then corrected herself and said home. She was probably asked at the last minute and she also looked uncomfortable with the whole thing.

[nell]

Well, here's some more video:

http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=71528&bw=

Sapphire is going home with two nurses, still gets help breathing through a tube, and will see a speech therapist. Doctors said she will have some developmental issues, and add that she might not live to age 3.

Sure hope she does half as well as Mom thinks....

nell

[msdobson]

Every child is a gift from God..

Must be some heartless God...

Mike

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Okay, that new video footage is just as bad! Mom was talking about how this baby is going to be a runner or a ballet dancer, because since she was born her tiny little legs have never ever stopped moving.

That's really the result of a premature and possibly damaged central nervous system.

Glad to see Dad is involved, though, because she'll need support at home.

[Lorie P.]

how terribly sad for this child! i am the mom of a 23.6 weeker that weighed in at 1.4 lbs, the only child that i can ever have and i fought like hell for her. today she a beautiful health 8 yr with no medical problems, delays.

yes, i know there are many out there that aren't this lucky. sad case, this little girl has no quality of life and mom is in major denial.

all i can say is that every night when i tuck my healthy daughter in bed, i always say a little prayer thanksgiving for having a micropreemie that has no problems what so ever!! boy , i am surely blessed.

[Jolie, BSN]

I couldn't get the video, only the audio, but once again the stupidity of the announcer galls me. She talks about how tiny Baby Sapphire's clothes were when she was born weighing a mere 15 ounces. Just how old do you think this child was before she was stable enough to be dressed in anything at all??? Does this idiot announcer really think that 15 oz, severely premature infants go around sporting fashionable togs??? I bet she does, since she has obviously done no background research at all!!!

[sanctuary, BSN, MSN, RN]

This brings up the issue of medical (and nursing) ethics. Just because we can do something, does it mean that we should??? Is there not a time to say," First, do no harm?"

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

San, we just went thru all that with our ethics and legal department. Yes, we have an obligation, at least in our state, to try to bring these kids back, esp. if the parents want it. There is not an age of viablility on our books. Their argument is that with the advancing technology, how do you know you couldn't "salvage" this person? Just because we can, doesn't mean we SHOULD. Ugh.

Yep, in the past week we have had 5 deaths in our unit, 3 in L/D of these 22 and 23 weekers. Believe me, I wish we lived by that motto, First do no harm, and the the other about letting them go with dignity.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I am not trying to sound crass, as every death is sad for someone.

But death is not always a tragedy.

I think a few generations back, our society was more used to death in general and it was not such a scary thing. Now it seems we are saving people we should allow to go gracefully because we are afraid of dealing with their death. I think this is true for all ages, not just preemies.

Just because we can, does it mean we should?