and what will december bring?

I asked myself this yesterday... and then headed to work.

So far... in the first 40-some hours it has brought more than an adventure or two--and I am sure the great adventure will only continue:).

Shift yesterday was one of those days you know will happen being in this profession... but is never fun. I was working with a fellow Canadian Serena, a fellow classmate Charity, and two great supervisors Ate Esteph and Ate Ana. I was endorsed a labour first thing in the morning... and it was a joy. The couple was great... they and the husband's sister were all really excited about this baby, and that it would be born soon!

While my labour was getting active Ate Esteph got a labour who was about to have her baby... when she was checking her in she couldn't find any heart tones... then she realized on the chart that the woman was in early labour... over a month and a half early...

Well the baby came shortly after, and was not alive... hadn't been alive for at least a day it appeared. So sad. Lifeless. Perfect. Helpless. Dependant. Babe.

THAT is not fun to see. That is not easy. I don't think it will ever be.

Well my labour was about ready to have her baby shortly after this... and it went beautifully. Aunty and dad welcomed the baby into the world with tears in their eyes, and massive smiles filling their faces:). The baby responded well to extra-uterine life... at least for a while.

When the baby was about 45 min old it started bleeding out of its nose and mouth. It was awful. Immediately the baby turned an terrible shade of blue, and we quickly prepared for transport. On the way to the hospital the baby appeared to be getting worse... and as we waited in emergency for the Dr. to be available, baby Cinder James kept turning bluer and bluer... and blood started coming up again. I couldn't stop praying... A helpless babe... in my arms... "Oh Lord... please don't let Cinder die here and now... Please Lord... meet us here".

Cinder is a fighter though. That is for SURE. I went to the clinic a few hours after shift to check on Cinder's ma... and the Aunty who had gone on the the transport with Serena and I was back from the hospital. She said Cinder was still alive (I wasn't expecting to even hear that... awful is that!)... she even said that he was pink again... though at some point had turned a deep violet! OH man.


Serena and I went this afternoon to the hospital to visit the family. Cinder and his dad were there... and Cinder looked amazing. He is now only on an IV, the bleeding has stopped... and he has to only be on free-flow oxygen every once in a while. SO great. SALAMAT SA GINOO! "Thank you Lord!"

Seriously. I know HE is the great physician. I looked up what most likely was the cause of Cinder's bleeding last night. The survival rate is super low... even in North America where there are a few more Dr's per capita than here... and it is by HIS grace alone this baby lives, breaths and can be cuddled in his father's arms.

Please pray for the family. Recovery is not over for this little boy. Pray that he will be able to start breastfeeding, and pray that the family will know the peace only God can give there in the hospital room. The room is FULL of very sick babies... and the dad today told me today he is very worried... because he has already seen SO many babies die there in the last 24hrs...

Cinder looks great though... and these pics are of him right after birth at MMC. They fam was so excited they wanted pics right away... and I am glad, no matter what happens, that they will have these reminders of joy of his birth.