Need to share

Hi y'all...I'm guessing this is the most appropriate place to post this. Last weekend I took care of a mom (I do OB/GYN/nursery) who'd had a c/s delivery of a 24 +3 baby that was about halfway out by the time she got to the hospital. This family was from Mongolia, had been here about 5 years and they were the absolute sweetest couple, a real joy to care for. I had that sixth sense about their baby when I admitted mom; some 24-weekers I can just sense are going to make it and they do. This family wasn't one of those, although they deserved it.

Anyway, they were on my mind all week. I didn't come back until last night and I asked our NNP (who was in wellbaby where I was in charge) how that kid did. She told me that respiratory-wise he was actually doing ok (as "ok" as one can be at 24wks, I guess) but that at DOL 2 he developed a grade IV brain bleed and it went downhill from there. Neo discussed c family about possible outcomes and they decided, because there was the possibility that they would return to Mongolia where there are considerable fewer resources for children with deficits that he would likely have s/p brain bleed, that they would dc the vent. Once they did that, apparently, the kid lived about 30 minutes. I could not imagine having to make that decision for my family nor being the one to cut off the vent.

I don't do NICU, but I have found myself grieving for that kid and that family. It must have taken an immense amount of courage for that family to make that decision. I personally feel like it was the right one. I guess I just needed to tell people that might understand where I'm coming from. Thanks for cyber-listening.