Being asked how old her baby Ruby is can be a complicated question for Ali Becenko.
Corrected age or actual age?
Ruby was born at 24 weeks and six days gestation, termed a 鈥榤icro-preemie.鈥�
Her birth was a shock. Ali had experienced some complications during her pregnancy that led them to go to the hospital.
鈥淚 just thought I was there for an ultrasound.鈥�
Instead, Ruby was born a day-and-a-half later at BC Women鈥檚 Hospital in Vancouver.
One hundred and 39 days after that 鈥� about four-and-a-half months, they were able to bring her home.
鈥淚t was a long time. It was a roller coaster,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was definitely a whole world to be involved in, in one day.鈥�
Ruby is the daughter of Ali and Rod Gollan.
Ruby wasn鈥檛 stable enough to be held when she was born so it was about 11 days before Ali could hold her for the first time.
Then the type of ventilator was changed to one where Ruby couldn鈥檛 be held at all.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite a delicate thing having a breathing tube with a baby that size,鈥� she explains, adding that tiny babies don鈥檛 actually like to be touched too much.
Ali went for a month-and-a-half without holding Ruby. Instead, she says, the hospital has found that 鈥榟and hugging鈥� is comforting to them. One hand went on her head while the other cupped her feet.
鈥淭hat was all I could do.鈥�
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One of the biggest hurdles was diaper changing, which had to be done in an incubator, hands in, only so far, working with a tiny baby who is distressed because she doesn鈥檛 want to be touched.
Ali left it to the nurses for a while who were skilled doing it.
Worry was a familiar companion. The night before Ruby was born, Ali remembers a woman coming in with all kinds of information about what was next, and lots of statistics.
鈥淚 remember her saying babies born at 27 weeks have a better outlook than babies at 24 weeks. That frightened me.鈥�
She says the medical professionals are forthright about what鈥檚 going on.
鈥淏ut they don鈥檛 have a crystal ball. Even with a normal baby, it can be two years.鈥�
It was a happy day when she and Rod could take Ruby home, both of them full of gratitude for their medical team.
鈥淚 was just glad I could leave with her. Some people had to leave the hospital without their baby.鈥�
Ruby had a NG (nasogastric) tube for feeding when she left and she has chronic lung disease, accompanied by a bit of a grunt and a raspiness to her breathing. She will move out of that diagnosis when her lungs grow to normal size, Ali explains.
Just last week she had the feeding tube removed, she weighs 9 lbs 4 ozs and has been doing fine.
鈥淩od and I are beyond happy that she has reached this milestone.鈥�
Before Ruby made her appearance, her parents had chosen a couple of names. Her dad chose Ruby, her mom Claire.
However, when she saw the baby, Ali thought Claire was just too plain for her. Not to mention, her skin was ruby-coloured.
So Ruby Claire she is.
Ruby sleeps well at night, she鈥檚 not a fussy baby, she loves staring at her dad鈥檚 beard 鈥� in fact she loves beards in general 鈥� she kicks her little feet, she likes lying on her play mat, she loves her little swing, and she can smile.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all worth it when they smile.鈥�
Ali and Rod would like to thank their family members for all of the help fundraising, as well as the community鈥檚 incredible support, which enabled them to spend as much time as possible together in Vancouver as a family while their daughter was in hospital.
鈥淲e are so grateful for the help we received.鈥�
marthawickett@saobserver.net
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