THE STORY OF TOBIAS

How it all started

This story started at 26th of November 1996.Tobias mother Ingela went to the hospital , for a ultrasound control. There they discovered that Tobias hadn´t grown for two weeks. So we had to go to the labor and delivery unit of Danderyds Hospital,so that they could do some more tests. But first we were allowed to go home and pack our bags. Many thoughts went through our minds and some tears fell on the way home . This night it should have been the third time on our childbirth class ! At 6 pm we checked in at the hospital. There they did several exams on Ingela , and she was connected to a monitor that registrated Tobias heartbeat. The doctors decided that it would be best for Tobias to be delivered as soon as possible. Ingela was given three doses of cortico steroid , so that Tobias lungs would undergo rapid development . The thing that worried the doctors most was Ingelas high bloodpressure.
Nov 27
Ingela moved to the womens clinic at the hospital. They decided that Tobias should be delivered by c-section (bikini cut) Nov 30 at 9 am.
Nov 29
Ingelas bloodpressure rises. 11.30 pm they decided to do the c-section immediately. At 01.38 am Tobias arrived . He weighed 1164g and measured 39 cm in lenght . His APGAR score was 9 9 9. He looked tiny but alright , when he was there on NICUS examen table, crying and peeing all over it. He was connected to several monitors,on a CPAP width adittional oxygen and in an isolette.
Nov 30
Lung problems ,not enough oxygen in blood,given surfacant to help his alvioli . He needs a ventilator.
Dec 1
4.00 am Tobias was transported in ambulance to another hospital Karolinska (KS).That hospital has a higher level on there intensive care . And they also have a oscillator ventilator.
Dec 2
Connected to the oscillator ventilator . X-rays on his lungs every 6th hour .Photo teraphy to bring his Bilirubin levels down.
Dec 4
Off the ventilator - on CPAP pressure 4 , 30% oxygen . Breastmilk for the first time, 3ml every third hour .It was given through a stomach tube. We sat kangaroo with him for the first time.
Dec 5
Transfusion of bloodplasma.
Dec 6
Tobias was transported back to Danderyds Hospital , section 20.
He stayed there until the 8th of February ! The way home has been very long (in two ways, we live 60 km from the hospital = a lot of car and bus trips). Tobias needed a long time to recover, especially his lungs. A lot of tests , x-rays on lungs and ultrasound on head,eyes were checked several times for ROP. He was on and off the CPAP several times ( the pressure between 2-4 ) , oxygen ( 24-30 % ). Jan 10th was his last day with CPAP. After that he needed a Nasal Canula for some days .
He also had some trouble with his stomach , and weren´t allowed to eat breasmilk for 10 days.
961224 Ingela breast feeded him for the first time .
970115 first time with bottle .
0108 Tobias wore his own clothes , made by his aunt Anna Lena .
0121 He passed 2000 grams .
0125 He had his first visit except his parents, it was his aunt Anna Lena .
0128 Last day with oxygen .
0206 Tobias was isolated from the other babies.The doctor believed that he had somekind of stomach virus (he didn't).
Feb 8
GOING HOME DAY ! At last,our last day at hospital,hopefully! We are going home on leave for three days.
Feb 11
Finally Tobias signed out from the hospital.Everything is okay with him,except that he breathes to fast sometimes.
So we have to come back once a week for lung registration.
March 3
3000 gr .He still breathes to fast sometimes. Otherwise Tobias is just fine.I guess he is just like any other baby (a little smaller). He eats,sleeps,cryes and you know what (sometimes keeps his parents awake at night!!!).
Oct 10
Tobias is now over 10 months . His weight is 7200gr and he is 71cm long. Everything is just fine with him. No problems at all. He has learned to sit without any help and he has got his first teeth. Once a week he goes to a babyswim group . He just love to play around in the pool .

2000-02-05
Ooops !!!! Long time no write.
Tobias is now over three years old .Everything is just fine with him. No problems at all related to his premature birth. He goes to kindergarten four days a week. He loves to skii ,skate, watch cartoons and to play with his knights.

We also want to thank the nurses for how nice and understanding and how well they have treated Tobias and us.
THANK YOU
DANDERYDS HOSPITAL SECTION 20 -- RED AND YELLOW ROOM
Eva,Mia,Lena,Carina,Ulla,Susanne,Katarina,Annika,Gunbritt,Majgret,Birgitta,Kerstin,Anki,Birgit,Agneta and the people on the nightshift who we never met, and the ones whos names i´ve forgotten.

Written by Tobias father Thomas (please excuse for incorrect grammar ! )