"With COVID-19, all of those memories have come flooding back. It is as if I am back in the NICU staring at that tiny infant and worried that she would get sick. Only now I have to pull myself out of that horrific daydream and stare at my teenager and pray that she will get through this. I am not alone in this. Parents of premature babies worldwide and some of whom had children on the very edge of viability are absolutely terrified. I also worry about the parents in the NICU now. I worry about the preemies that are now teens, young adults, adults, and in the elderly years. Each of them has at least one underlying health condition that can turn COVID-19 into a severe and yes, fatal case.
To health responders and the health care professionals on the front end: I hear you on the seriousness of this illness. Thank you for guiding us on the challenges with COVID-19. You have us parents of vulnerable children and your former tiny patients backing up your concerns completely. To the general public heeding that concern to #stayhome and do the right thing by the young and the old and the immunocompromised, again, we are grateful. You are all our heroes."
Deb Discenza is co-author of the Preemie Parent’s Survival Guide to the NICU and founder, PreemieWorld.
She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, “COVID-19 is rattling the nerves of preemie parents everywhere.” (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/covid-19-is-rattling-the-nerves-of-preemie-parents-everywhere.html)
Hosted by Kevin Pho, MD, The Podcast by KevinMD shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. Welcome to The Podcast by KevinMD.
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