Dear friends and family
We trust this email finds you well?
We never imagined that we'd be celebrating Christmas this year at home with our daughter but we had the absolute joy of bringing her home yesterday!
We had an amazing hospital experience and received such compassionate care. Since we didn't prepare to bring a baby home, it's been quite helpful having a couple of weeks to learn about changing nappies and bathing babies with 24 hour nursing support right there... and get our heads around the fact that OH MY, WE ARE ACTUALLY PARENTS!
Up until now, Sarah-Hope was in the neonatal intensive care unit where she was monitored and assessed in order to get a better overall picture of her health. The most significant features at this stage are:
1. The small size of her lungs, which manage to maintain oxygen saturation beautifully but have to work about 2.5 times as hard as a typical newborn. This diminishes the energy she has left for other activities such as feeding (she has a feeding tube as a result). Also, a chest infection at this stage is a serious risk for her.
2. A very low blood platelet count which means she bruises easily and could be at risk of spontaneous bleeding or at worst haemorrhaging.
The good news is that her lungs will grow as she does and her platelets can stabilise in later years. In the meantime, since she is still vulnerable, we'll be taking precautions such as limiting her exposure to sick people, avoiding crowded situations, asking visitors to wash/sanitise their hands, and 'handling her with care'. We're really going to have to restrain ourselves as we're so looking forward to introducing our darling Sarah-Hope to you all (she's so sweet! See picture attached!) but will have to take it slow.
We want to thank you so much all for your love and support and for celebrating Sarah-Hope's life with us. By the way, you may have noticed it was first name 'Sarah' and second name 'Hope' before she was born... her father didn't want people to 'lose the Hope' so officially registered her as 'Sarah-Hope' so that HOPE remains! Our prayer for you this Christmas is the same as for our daughter: "We pray also that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened in order that you know the HOPE to which he has called you" (Ephesians 1:18a).
In His arms,
Richard, Leigh and Sarah-Hope
P.S. Once again, apologies for not being able to respond to your messages (which we love!)... If you'd like to receive updates, please contact Carol, who can send you little bits of news every few days - Carol is still our main point of contact for now. Darlene can be contacted with regard to providing help / meeting needs.
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On our way home for Christmas
Thanks for setting up my nursery Aunty Carol and granny
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