Tiny Miracles: Premature Birth at FAME
Judy
Today, we are at the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Clinic, where we meet 36-year-old Judy*. She's here for her prenatal checkup as she's 18 weeks pregnant with her second child. This is not Judy's first time at FAME; she had previously given birth to her first child here three years ago. The delivery was difficult as her son was born prematurely, just one day short of reaching the 25-week mark.
“Everything was going well during my pregnancy for the first three months. Then, things took a turn. I started experiencing sharp pains that made it impossible for me to walk and I had to spend most of my days in bed. I attended prenatal classes at FAME then and they advised me to rest and take it easy. However, I suddenly went into full-blown labor when I was almost 25 weeks along. My sister rushed me to FAME and the doctors confirmed that they had no other option but to deliver the baby. It was a devastating experience for me.”
Judy, being a new mom with no prior experience, felt extremely frightened and uncertain about what lay ahead.
“I was sure that my child would die. I had never heard of a baby being born that early; I didn’t think it was something that could happen. The doctors and nurses at FAME were incredibly supportive. They comforted me and reassured me that despite the odds against us, my child still had a chance to survive. My son was born weighing only 1.1 lbs. He didn’t even look like a human being! I have never cried so much in my life.”
While FAME has a Special Care Nursery, the closest facility to a NICU for almost 100 miles, FAME does not have the synthetic surfactant injection given to premature babies to help them breathe. As a result, Judy’s baby had to be transferred to a NICU in Arusha, 95 miles from FAME.
“The NICU in Arusha was full, but thanks to the efforts of FAME doctors, they managed to secure a spot for me. When my family came to assist with the transfer, they were shocked by just how small my baby was, almost resembling a rat! Nevertheless, I was unwavering in my determination to do whatever it took to save my baby’s life.”
Judy stayed with her baby in the NICU at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center (ALMC) for three months.
“It was a very challenging time. My baby was the smallest one in the NICU. I saw other mothers of premature babies crying a lot, but I tried my best to stay strong because I quickly realized that my tears did not make anything better. The doctors were incredibly compassionate and when my son reached 2.2 lbs, they surprised me with a cake and a little celebration! I appreciated how every little achievement was celebrated there.”
Judy's beaming as she flips through pictures of her unstoppable three-year-old son. "FAME made it all possible and I'm so grateful," she says, deeply moved.
Judy is very thankful to FAME.
“FAME truly saved my baby’s life. He is now an active 3-year-old and very intelligent! He keeps me on my toes! I named him Godwin, but now we all just call him ‘Miracle’. I have always had faith in doctors, so I might have lost hope if FAME doctors had not told me there was a small chance of survival for my child. FAME stood by me, supporting us every step of the way. After taking my baby home from the NICU, I brought him to FAME’s RCH for vaccinations and checkups, where we still come today. FAME has been there for us for the past three years and it’s given me the courage to have another child. I am confident I am in capable hands with FAME if I ever face a similar situation.”
FAME continues to make strides in its Special Care Nursery (SCN). In 2022, we hired pediatrician Dr. Elissa Zirinsky and in 2023, Volunteer Pediatrician Dr. Peter Wallis joined the team. With this level of support and expertise over the next year, we are excited to bring our SCN to the next level in order to greatly reduce the need for these types of referrals.
*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes from the interview have been translated from Swahili to English.