A JOYFUL REUNION

To mark Prematurity Awareness Month, these facilities held a unique programme that was attended by 30-40 families and their children who were born pre-term. Members of the neonatal unit got the opportunity to interact with the babies they had forged a special bond with during their stay at the hospital. Parents also recalled their journeys through pre-term birth and the care received at these facilities.

A MIRACULOUS RECOVERY

Due to severe hypertension in his mother, a baby boy was born to Filipino parents at the very early gestational age of 25 weeks. At the time of his birth, weighing only 580 grams, he was no bigger than the palm of a hand and his chances of survival were 50:50. The medical team, led by Dr. Govinda Shenoy, managed the baby’s condition for 102 days. They avoided infections, kept the baby warm and provided nutrition and support for breathing until his lungs could develop their function. The baby has now grown into a healthy five-yearold. Dr. Shenoy makes it a point to keep in contact with the parents of all his pre-term babies for five to eight years to assess their development.

OVERCOMING A SPINAL DEFECT

A baby boy born to Emirati parents at 36+1 weeks of pregnancy, with a birth weight of 2.126 kg, was diagnosed with a large defect in the spine requiring surgical intervention. Led by Dr. Mohamed Elzogby, Consultant, Neurosurgery, the team at Burjeel Medical City wanted to prevent the open defect from becoming infected, as this could lead to brain infection. As the baby was pre-term, the team needed to plan carefully for the procedure with the neurosurgeon, as most such cases are generally done on babies who have reached full maturity. The initial surgery was successfully completed. The baby was discharged in good condition and will continue to follow up.

A member of the medical team holding a newborn at the Burjeel Medical City NICU (left). Dr. Shenoy with five year-old Henrid Digo, who was born at a gestational age of 25 weeks and spent 102 days in the NICU (right).