We had waited a very long time to receive something that NICU parents talked about frequently, 'blue bird' status. When a picture of a little blue bird is placed at your child's bedside then it means that plans for discharge had begun. Since Gemma's was such a special occassion the coordinator organized for one of our primary nurses (Laura) to give it to us, it was a very special moment. We were so excited!
Once you have reached discharge status all of a sudden lights are green and it is go go go time!
We frantically hurried along with the NICU staff to get preparations ready to go home. Every day was filled with training, appointments, discussions, practice and checking off all of the requirements in order for Gemma to leave the hospital. We were finally able to be trained how to do everything and even be able to take her out of the NICU for walks. It was overwhelming and scary for us but exciting at the same time.
One of our nurses came up with a cute idea to build a flower board that showed Charlie and my progress in our training and when the flowers were in full bloom it meant we were finished all of the steps we needed to take to care for Gemma at home.
Everything was happening so fast.. It was a bittersweet month, excited, nervous, scared. So happy to go home, yet so hard to leave the comfort of all of the nurses, doctors and RT's right outside her door. All of a sudden the weight of the responsibility was on our shoulders and panic started to set in a bit.
Our first biggest challenge came with the 'weekend by parent', a chance for us to spend 48+ hours with Gemma, completely on our own, in a seperate part of the hospital, and no one to help us (unless we really need it). Oh boy... we had to plan and bring all our supplies, it was like hospital camping, we were nervous but it went really well, we even had a situation but it was a great learning experience and it was really empowering.
The following week the Red Cross put on a goodbye party, we sat in the conference room (ironically the place of many discussions about Gemma's future - wish we could have known then what we know now), as hospital staff came in to give us their best wishes, have some cake and watch a slide show of Gemma's journey. It was always other friend's goodbye parties at the hospital and now it was finally ours!
On December 22nd, after 307 days in the NICU, one of the happiest days of our lives happened, a day we never knew would come, we welcomed our daughter Gemma home. We thank everyone with all our hearts that supported us through our journey and helped making Gemma come home possible!
