Needing Faith and Hope
Just a few hours before their twin girls were born, Dani and Wyatt Stramer agreed the names would be perfect: Faith and Hope. "We knew that given our situation, with our girls being born at only 24 weeks, we would need plenty of faith and hope to get us through," says the Grand Forks mom.
Early in the pregnancy, Dani and Wyatt knew they might have difficulties. On Thanksgiving Day, Dani began having strong contractions, prompting an ambulance trip to Fargo. They knew that if their babies were born this early, they would need the highly specialized care of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). MeritCare Children's Hospital is one of the few hospitals in this region with a NICU capable of caring for such small premature infants.
Dani spent the next five days in MeritCare Family Birth Center, where she was on bedrest and received medication to keep the babies from being born quite so soon. "We very much wanted to get these babies to 24 weeks, because at this stage, every day counts and is critical for the babies' growth and development," says Dr. Kate Stanley, one of five board-certified neonatologists in the 24-bed, Level III NICU.
A medical home away from home
On Dec. 2, Dani gave birth to Faith (1 lb., 6 oz.) and Hope (1 lb., 7 oz.). For the next three months, the hightech NICU became the twins' home.
"Babies born at 24 weeks have a 50 to 60 percent survival rate," says Dr. Stanley. "The biggest issue for babies born this early is undeveloped, fragile lungs – lungs that do not always respond to a conventional ventilator. Here in this NICU, we have the specialized ventilators many tiny babies need to survive called highfrequency ventilators. It's wonderful to have these specialized tools available." High-frequency ventilation is available at MeritCare Children's Hospital thanks to Children's Miracle Network support.
Both babies had lung problems, but Hope's were more severe and lasted longer. In addition, both had patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a heart condition in which a pathway between two major heart vessels remains open. (In full-term babies, this pathway typically closes shortly after birth.) For Hope, medication was enough to close the PDA, but Faith needed surgery. Both babies also needed laser surgery to remedy retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels in the eye's retina), a common problem in premature infants. There were other problems related to prematurity, too, but one-by-one, each was handled. Close monitoring and anticipation of problems were key.
"The variety of problems a premature infant can have underscores the need for a team approach. It contributes greatly to good outcomes," says Dr. Stanley. The NICU team includes neonatologists, pediatric specialists, neonatology nurses, pediatric respiratory therapists, pediatric occupational therapists, pediatric nutritionists and more – all focused on the specialized care of tiny, premature or ill babies.
A strong bond
Dani spent almost all of her time in the NICU, asking questions, getting involved in the care whenever possible and relying on her husband for support. "Wyatt was such a source of strength to me. He was always my shoulder to cry on, especially the first two weeks," she says. "If it weren't for him, I never would have been able to get through this." Wyatt took six weeks off, then returned to his job at Western Wireless, keeping in touch by phone multiple times a day. Dr. Stanley noticed the Stramers' strong bond: "They were very committed to each other and to their little girls," she says. "Every step of the way, they were there for each other."
The Stramers had other sources of strength, too. "We did a lot of praying in the chapel at MeritCare, plus we were just so grateful for all the support we received from the outside – friends, family, neighbors – such a good bunch of people," says Dani.
Being parents
As Dani and Wyatt discovered, advanced technology plays a key role in the NICU, but so does the awareness of what babies need developmentally. One example is "kangaroo care," which involves the mom or dad sitting in a rocking chair in the NICU and holding the tiny baby next to the heart – skin to skin. "Babies and parents need that close connection," says Dr. Stanley. More than that, kangaroo care stimulates parent/infant bonding, encourages breast feeding and may lead to earlier discharge.
Dani recalls what it was like: "It was the best. The feeling you have when you finally get to hold your babies is something you just can't express. You've waited so long to be able to do it and when you finally can – it's indescribable."
After three months in the NICU, Dani and Wyatt were able to take Faith and Hope home to Grand Forks. Each weighed over 5 pounds, and they'd grown strong and healthy enough to leave the medical world of the NICU. "It felt super to bring them home," says Dani. "We realize, too, that if it weren't for the care they received in Fargo – amazing care – we likely wouldn't be where we are today. It started out being about faith and hope … and it still is."
Learn more about MeritCare Children's Hospital's NICU on meritcare.com or call (701) 234-2000 or (800) 437-4010.
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