Footprints of a Premature Infant
Pregnancy is an exciting time in a woman’s life. It also can be very stressful: getting ready for pregnancy, staying healthy during pregnancy, and giving your baby a healthy start in life. This was my feeling 35 years ago when I was expecting my first-born baby with great hope. Unfortunately, the anticipation of a happy moment was shattered when my baby came out too soon at exactly 36 weeks. Babies born before 37-week gestation are considered premature.
My feeling of excitement turned into sadness and loneliness, seeing the baby for only a moment before he was whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). I longed to hold him and cuddle into my arms, but it was impossible due to the equipment attached to him. I could not touch and caress him inside the incubator. Our strong faith in God compelled us to have him baptized in the NICU. Everyday visits were a roller-coaster experience: one day the baby appeared responsive, the next day, hope seemed to be lost.
On the 10th day after birth, we received a call from the nurse to come to the NICU. The doctor told us that the baby’s condition deteriorated, and he was pronounced dead. We requested to hold him in our arms and kissed him once and for all. I whispered to him that we would remember him forever in the loving hands of the Almighty. Secretly, I prayed that his footprints would leave an indelible impression on those he left behind. My husband and I, with mixed feelings of grief, love, and compassion, gave him a funeral and burial, just weeks after his birth.
The time has come to celebrate our deep love by dedicating the Rion de Venecia Mendoza Foundation International to honor his memory and to embark on the following mission.