NOVE 6, 2016--Naomi's DAy

Good morning! I think that today is both a happy day and a sad day for me. My mom and my dad originally told me that I had two big sisters and one big brother--a nice big family, right? But today, I was excited to learn that it was even bigger--bigger because I have yet another sister! Her name was--no no--her name is Naomi. You see, my mom told me that something really bad happened to Naomi. She told me that I unfortunately could not meet her. She said that Naomi died exactly one year ago--on her due date of November 6.

 

My mom said that she doesn't really know why my sister died. She said that really bad things just happen sometimes. Even my dad doesn't know why. But my mom did tell me that although Naomi died, she was still thankful for the nine months that she and my dad and my brothers and sisters got to spend with her. She told me that Naomi was even a lot like me: that we moved and squirmed the same when we were in my mom's tummy; that we kinda look the same; and that our names even start with the same letter. I am beginning to think that even though I never got to meet Naomi, I am still going to miss her.

 

I hear that saying "good-bye" to a baby is a really hard thing to do. I certainly don't want to say good-bye to my mom and dad yet. Unfortunately, a number of us CDH babies have to say "good-bye" way too early. Many of my CDH friends live, but just as many of them die--and sometimes, like with Naomi, nobody quite knows the reason. But did you know that many more of my CDH friends could live--and you wanna know why? Because of the best CDH doctor and staff in the world--my doctor, Dr. Kays, and my nurses. At most hospitals (even at many of the best hospitals in the world), babies as sick as me survive less than 50% of the time, and those that do survive often have a really hard time for many years.

 

But at my hospital, with Dr. Kays and his nurses, babies as sick as me survive over 90% of the time! Did you hear that--over 90% of the time! And not only do we survive, we do pretty well too. The truth and the tragedy of this whole story is simply that the news about my doctor and my nurses has yet to get out. So, if you know someone who has a baby like me, please tell them about Dr. Kays and his nurses so that they don't have to--like my mom and dad had to with my sister--say "good-bye" too soon. Your pal, Noah Abner.

P.S. If you would like to learn more about Naomi's good-bye, you can click the italicized link to the right: Naomi's Good-bye

P.S.S. please be patient after clicking the link. The link takes about 20 seconds to load.