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Hello everyone!

First of all, I apologise for not posting this earlier. To make it up to you all, the next entry will be posted much sooner.

Recently I was privileged enough to undertake a placement in a neonatology ward (ward for newborns). For what I was doing there, let us rewind to a week before that, when I was shadowing a physiotherapist.

The physiotherapist had a session scheduled for an infant that was experiencing breathing difficulties. After observing various examinations and attending a discussion over a patient who was situated in the intensive care ward, I was going to learn how breathing therapy was done. Awesome!

But it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. As I sidled up to the right side of the incubator, grabbed a chair to sit on and peered in, I was literally dumbfounded. Inside laid a tiny, premature newborn with various tubes and wires strapped to it. Its sheer size could rival a babyborn doll.

It was also bloody adorable.

Okay, I’ve seen pictures of myself in an incubator as I was born eight weeks premature. But personally seeing a premature newborn up front, one that was born sixteen weeks premature, I was awe-struck.

Its size, however, wasn’t the reason for my awe. See, in that moment I realised how vulnerable this little bundle was; how dependent on the medical staff it was; how it had come a long way in the last week or so, since its birth. Never before had I really understood the claim ‘babies are miracles’ until that point.

I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase ‘babies are miracles’ and have either witnessed other people or personally shot this idea down as it does not follow the definition of a miracle. That or you simply don’t believe in miracles. Miracles are events that are supernatural in origin and therefore an act of God or events that defy the laws of nature. We won’t go into whether these laws of nature really do exist but let’s say they do. It is normal for a baby to be born at 37 to 42 weeks. It is not normal for them to be born much earlier and survive. Their fragile lives are endangered; they are much more susceptible to illnesses as well as respiratory and nourishment problems.

Needless to say, it was very difficult for me to concentrate on the techniques the physio was demonstrating. I was completely enamoured with the infant.

But I didn’t want it to end at just one session. I wanted to learn more, participate in consultations and interrogate the mickey out of the physician on duty.

And in doing all of these, my desire to work in a similar environment, a similar position of responsibility only heightened. The soreness in my feet also heightened but I figured it was a minor sacrifice to make.

Question to consider: Have you ever had an encounter related to your dreams/goals/career that left you baffled?

Comments and criticism are more than welcome. ^_^