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Overview
On May 4th, 1992, Carma finally got to take her baby home after 73 days on an emotional roller coaster in a place that felt like science fiction. Surrounded by a sea of babies, most of them weighing under 2 pounds (1 kilogram), kept alive through surgeries, daily being needled, tubed, taped and treated in ways no parent wants their baby to experience (though it's life-saving). She felt as though they had come home from combat. A local support group for NICU families helped and she volunteered to become their newsletter editor.
This article was written to inform nurses, social workers, clergy, family, friends, and co-workers of new parents whose infant must stay in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit . The platitudes most frequently offered to console or bolster parents are not helpful, but most NICU parents are in too much shock and upset to know what to say or do, so these unsuccessful attempts to be helpful are usually politely dismissed. Then later, the parents vent where it is safe, in a room alone with other NICU parents who are grieving--numb, scared out of their wits, horrified, deeply disturbed, anxious, angry and maybe even outraged and rightfully so. They did everything right, everything the doctor ordered, and are suspected of not taking precautions during pregnancy, or at least they feel guilty and lost. The best thing to do is listen. This article is a composite of parents' comments, not merely the author's experience.
Warning: Readers who have experienced a miscarriage, traumatic childbirth or NICU incident may be triggered by this article.
Carma's 2-pounder thrived thanks to her dedication and the experts. He is now an AP Scholar attending college in Los Angeles, and wants to become a Cinematographer. As a backup plan, he is also majoring in Accounting to become a CPA.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940011138836 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Carma Gagne Chan |
| Publication date: | 11/23/2010 |
| Sold by: | Smashwords |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 152 KB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Carma is a California girl who grew up in the middle of eight monsters who learned to be creatively human in the home of Ruth Gagne and Jon-Jon Chan.
Mentored in the ancient art of storytelling by UCLA's quotable screenwriting Professor Richard Walter, and wrote seven original screenplays. Her first, titled Saardu: The Adventure Begins, won awards in international screenwriting contests and earned the Kids First! endorsement. She loves visual storytelling media and reviews favorites at IMDb.
Hobbies include creative writing, gardening, genealogy, and photography. She loves visiting the Redwoods, Olympic, Yellowstone, Yosemite and other state and national parks. Her first overseas travel was to Maui, London, and Ireland (Cork County) in 2019.
In her early twenties she was lead vocalist in a rock band named Raucous Rogue that performed in and around Salt Lake City. To celebrate her 25th birthday, Carma went skydiving and describes the free fall as thrilling. She did not like the landing, but no bones broke. She has also enjoyed snow skiing in California, Utah, and Whistler, Canada.
Carma lives with husband Oliver in sunny southern California. So far, she has survived the COVID-19 pandemic through an abundance of caution and triple vaccination due to age and health concerns. She is proud Mom to two awesome adults and Gramma Carmels to three grandkids. Her latest work is a family love story about her Gagne grandparents, titled "Albert Loved Sylvia."
Her Gagne ancestors arrived in Quebec, Canada, in the 1600s and were among the founding families of that city and the Isle of Orleans. Carma is a direct descendant of many noble women historically listed as Filles du Roi, or King's Daughters. Among her notable many times great-grandparents are Jean Beaudet and Marie Grandin, and Louis Gagne and Marie Michel. Guillaume Couture (1618-1701), a celebrated diplomat and prominent historical figure in Quebec history, is her 9th great-grandfather. She looks forward to a trip to Quebec to visit historical landmarks and experience her ancestral roots.
She gets her zen from her beloved Chinese dad.
Carma has written seven screenplays, a series of children's picture books teaching appreciation of natural wonders, technology and artistry, The Saardu Trilogy science fantasy novels for incurable daydreamers of all ages and dimensions, and collections of poetry and art.