The big move

On Friday, February 11, 2011, Samuel was moved from the NICU at Foothills Hospital to the PICU at Alberta Children's Hospital. This process took about 5 hours even though the two hospitals are less than 5 minutes apart. He was accompanied on transport by two nurses, a respiratory therapist, and one of his many neonatologists, Dr. Anne Tierney, who is also the medical director. At the end, three people wearing big EMS jackets and fluorescent vests arrived to take Samuel. I prayed that they would not break him. 

It was 3:20 p.m. when I hugged Dr. Anne good-bye at the PICU; Samuel was ten days old to the minute! Then came the new nurses, doctors, residents, respiratory therapists, sounds, smells, rules, and a whole new round of ventilator tweakings, blood gas tests and procedures. I attached a few photos of our experience as everything about it still feels mostly like a really stressful blur to me.

Samuel did exceptionally well throughout all of this. Clearly, he has more strength and courage than his mother at moments like these. He is settling well into his new private room at Children's Hospital. I am spending the day there today and have been promised a nice long cuddle with my boy. I hope to get a chance to speak with the surgeon, cardiologist and anesthesiologist who will, together, make the decision about when our boy goes to surgery to get his insides straightened out.

Hanging out waiting to move - an extra IV was put into his head in case the umbilical line was dislodged during transport. The yellow disk is to protect his sensitive hearing from the new sounds of the outside world.

The neonatal transfer stretcher and some of the transport team.



That's our wee Samuel in there.



Samuel's new digs at the Children's Hospital. Can you find our baby in there?!

His teddy bear from Nana and name blocks from brothers.



There he is, looking very relaxed. Add a tv remote in one hand and a beer in the other...