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| Much too soon, it was time for us to leave. We could have stayed with Sydney while she was being prepared, but we would have just been in the way. We gave the nurse our cell phone number so we could be contacted when Sydney landed. I also asked if I could have anything and everything from Sydney�s stay there. I was given her name card, extra diapers, a blanket, and other little things. There was also a special blue foam pad that had been made specially for Sydney while in the jet. The nurse told me I could have it when Sydney arrived at the other hospital. Brian and I walked over to Sydney. I was crying. God, please let her be okay. Please let her survive the flight. We told Sydney that we loved her, that God was going to take care of her. We said she was going on a special trip and that the scenery would be beautiful. We also told her that we would be there with her at the next hospital as soon as we could. After the lingering good-byes, we kissed her. |
| Sydney's Story |
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| I dreaded the trip. I wanted to be there now. I knew the ride was going to feel like an eternity. After a couple of hours, the phone rang. This was it. I answered and it was Brian�s brother. He said their parents had called. Sydney was okay. They had been at the hospital when she arrived and they told the nurse they would call us. They couldn�t find our number so they called David instead. David called us. I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you, God. I found a piece of paper, wrote "She�s OK" on it, and held it against my window so my parents could see it. They smiled and nodded. I later learned that Brian�s parents rode the elevator with Sydney to go to the SCN. While in the elevator, a man asked if Sydney was theirs. They explained she was their granddaughter. He then asked many other questions such as her name, how old she was, and what was wrong with her. Brian�s mother broke down. |
| When we arrived at the hospital, Brian�s parents were still waiting. They had not been allowed to see Sydney because the team was still preparing the other baby and trying to get Sydney settled into her bed. I saw a few L&D nurses that I recognized and they asked how we were doing. They let us wait in their break room instead of downstairs. One of the SCN nurses came out a little while later and told us we could see Sydney. |
| We went back to her room. It was so wonderful to see her again. I asked if we could bring Kelsea back and they said they weren�t sure. Usually the child had to be three in order to come back. However, they said they would check with the head nurse and let us know the next day. They also said they were going to try and get Sydney her own room if possible. Unfortunately, that didn�t work out. There simply were not enough nurses to allow it. While we visited with Sydney, there was another couple right next to her visiting their baby boy. He looked pretty big but he was having trouble breathing. I noticed the mommy got to hold him and feed him. I was so jealous. Did she know how fortunate she was to do something so simple? |
| Since Sydney was on a different type of respirator, I could see more of her mouth. I kept noticing her tongue moving in and out. How sweet! She also kept drooling every once in a while. When I noticed it, I would take my finger and wipe it off and then rub my finger on my face. In my mind, that was a kiss from her. We stayed with Sydney a few hours and then decided we really needed to go home. I ached to be there with her but I knew we all needed the rest. We never knew what the next day would bring. We gave the nurses three phone numbers to call in case of an emergency. They also gave us the number to the SCN and said we could call anytime. Once again we had to tell Sydney good-bye and smother her in kisses. Later that night Brian told me he felt so guilty leaving her there. He said he should have stayed with her. She needed her Daddy. He shouldn�t have left her with strangers. I tried to explain to him that he, too, needed to rest, but he wouldn�t listen. Even today, he still feels guilty because he thinks he made the wrong choice in going home. |
| 9/21/00(pg 2) |