Reflections of Logan's ICN stay

After Logan's month-long stay at the Intensive Care Nursery, I often wonder what would I do if I do not have any health insurance. Hospitals often say they won't turn away anyone, especially babies if they were born needed services and support like this (actually, it was written in Kaiser's Patients Bill of Rights). However, what happens when the baby is discharged? You still have to pay for ongoing medication, equipment (like Logan's oxygen supply or apnea monitor), ongoing doctor's appointments which oftentimes include seeing different specialists. All of this cost money. I am pretty sure these are not covered within that Bill of Rights. Of course, there are free clinics and General Hospitals, but we all know they are not the nicest or friendliest places, esp. when you have to wait for months to get an appointment.

This makes me realize the importance of Universal Healthcare. I am not a very political person, but I do know this has been an important issue discussed during the Presidential election. I don't know how to make it work or how much it costs, I just hope affordable healthcare can be available to all those in need. Can you imagine seeing your baby suffer and you can't bring him/her to see a doctor?

I've also been thinking about participating in the March for Babies (March of Dimes) in San Francisco on April 25. Even though Logan wasn't a preemie, I've seen so many preemies at the ICN. They were all so tiny, some weren't even 2 lbs and they had different machines hooked up to them. It was already heartbreaking for me to see my "big" boy going through all the tests, hearing all the "ding ding" sounds coming from the monitors. You just can't help but look at the monitor and go crazy whenever the alarm sounded off. I remember the nurses kept on saying, "Don't look at the monitor, but look at your baby because first, you will go crazy, and second, there isn't a monitor at home. You need to be able to tell from the face of your baby. " And they are so right on that! I can totally tell when Logan's face changes color.

Back to the March for Babies... I am not sure if I can logistically bring two kids up to San Francisco before 9 a.m., braving through traffic and the nightmare of finding parking, to participate. Not even sure if I could raise a substantial amount for the cause either. Money is tight as I am not working at the moment, plus, with the recession and all, I am hesitant to ask for donations. Maybe if I know someone is doing it, I'll just donate some money instead.

Preemies are miracles! They are fighters!