My fraternal twins arrived a month early. Their premature arrival meant they had to stay in the NICU. Paisley made her grand entrance on January 5th, 2023, at 11:47 pm. Just 43 minutes later, on January 6th, her brother, Tristan, was born, giving each twin a different birthday!
Paisley needed oxygen support for a week, and Tristan required it for only two days. Both struggled with feeding and had to be fed through tubes since they couldn't suck on bottles. My emotions were overwhelming, but the FSNCC staff's kindness and expertise provided comfort. Initially, they were kept in separate rooms due to a busy NICU, which made me so sad. A kind nurse named Hannah brought them together after four days. I took a picture of the moment they were reunited.
Their journey to learn to suck included pacifiers, with my son mastering the bottle after a week. It took my daughter a bit longer, but the day she accepted her first bottle from me was incredibly special. Each day, they gained weight, growing stronger from their initial 4lbs. I stayed by their side and was grateful for the emotional support the FSNCC staff gave me.
During my stay, I visited the FSNCC room in the NICU, where they gave my babies blankets, books, and hats. FSNCC's kindness and understanding made a significant difference, making me feel less alone during this challenging time. I even enjoyed a pizza dinner, a small pleasure that meant a lot to me.
Finally, at the end of January, my babies were well enough to come home. My son arrived a week before my daughter, but the joy of having them home together was beautiful. FSNCC's continuous reassurance that my babies would be all right provided immense comfort.
To other NICU families, I urge you to reach out to the FSNCC staff; their constant help made a big impact. I'm truly grateful to the nurses at Cone for caring for my babies and to FSNCC for supporting me through the process. Their commitment, from reading to my babies to helping me through the process, will always be appreciated.
Love,
Christen Curry