17 Dec 09
We were feeding Charlene halfway when she regurgitated a little milk followed by super-frown. What followed next was terrifying. Her heart rate plunged, oxygen in blood plunged to single digit till the machine couldn’t pick up. Charlene’s face turned blue and was not responding when I called her. It was scary as both of us watch in helplessness. But never once did I think she’ll die.
The nurse called (over the PA system) for help. As the NICU nurses are nearby, they dashed over. When one nurse heard Dez say Charlene choke (cos milk was coming out of her nose), she placed Charlene face down and pat her back real hard. They also gave her oxygen and suction the milk out of her body. By the time the doctors and more nurses came dashing in, Charlene was back to life. (Thank God for raising Charlene from the dead). I heard her cry a little. The whole episode probably lasted for 2 mins though it felt like eternity to us.
The doctor on call explained that it was most likely the gastro-oesophageal reflux that caused it and they will give Charlene more medication.
Though Dez and I are shocked by the whole event (doctors termed it as acute life-threatening episodes or ALTE), we are glad that this did not happen at home or Charlene would have been dead.
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