Day 59, November 14, 2001. Chloe had an eye exam today and her eyes have absolutely no detectable problems. A word of advice for all preemie parents and how to handle the eye exam.
My advice is leave the NICU if you are there for the eye exam. Don't simply go to another room, because you will hear your little one cry and that will cause great pains to you. Many NICUs do not allow you to be in the presence of an eye exame because of the screaming of the baby and what they do in the exam.
Cheryl was in another room when the exam took place and it took all of her stregnth to not run out and comfort Chloe. If she had to do it over again, should would of left and gone to another floor. It may seam cold, but the test must go on.
What the eye doctor does in the exam is use a device to force the eye lids open and then manually move the eyes.
Mom got to hold Chloe for about an hour while she was doing one of her feedings. Mom like to hold the little girl.
She is now two hours off the CPAP and three hours on the CPAP. She has had no Apnea episodes or other problems, which is an answer to prayer.
(Chloe and Mom)
If she stays off the CPAP then they can start feeding her by the bottle, which means that she will be able to reach the three basic criteria (eat, breath and maintain body temperature). The sooner she reaches the three requirements, the sooner we can get her home.
Chloe now weighs 3 lbs, 8.5 oz., this is over double her weight then when she was born.
Mom got to hold Chloe for a hour and a half. Chloe now looks forward to these visits, which make it very hard for her parents. But her parents do know that some day she will come home and they will have Chloe 24 hours a day.
