I FOUND myself crying while watching a video Mommy Gree tagged me. The video is all about her son, Iñigo's journey and survival.
I met her in one of the events of Chimes Boutiques. Mommy Tricia introduced me to her. I learned that she is a mom of a micropreemie -- a baby boy at 27 weeks (six months) with a birth weight of 1.19 kilograms.
My heart skipped. I looked at Gree. In her eyes, I saw a very strong woman. If I am in her shoes, I don't think I can do the same.
I had mixed emotions when I saw Iñigo's photos.
"Our neonatologist required four doses of Surfactant therapy. I remember her saying 'Pray for another day, just 1 day at a time for him to survive.' It's still fresh in my memory the first time I saw him stopped breathing. Because he's premature, there are episodes of apnea almost every day. I witnessed how he turned blue and how he was revived by the doctors and nurses," Gree said.
She shared that she was allowed to carry her son on Mother's Day and that was 12 days after he was born.
"Iñigo was very septic (infectious) and he reached a certain type of antibiotic wherein we have to sign a waiver because it has effects that can cause hearing loss or affect his bone development," she said.
"We celebrated each day of living as a victory, we learned how to appreciate life even more," she added.
Gree also thanked his husband, Henrick, for being strong.
"As a first time parent, seeing our son fight for his life hurts. It was never easy. But he proved to us how brave he was surpassing surfactant therapy, a picc line, battery of antibiotics, anti-fungals, BPD regimen and two-time intraocular laser therapy," she said.
"We were amazed on how a preemie fights. They never back down as long as they feel their parent's love. It was too much for us to handle, we could never have won this battle if God is not with us. He fought alongside our family, our baby, our Iñigo," she added.
Iñigo is now three months, but his corrected age is 12 days.
I suggest you also watch her video. Watch how a micropreemie braved all that he needed to have in order to survive. Watch how two individuals remained strong and hopeful for their child. Listen to how Mommy Gree greets Iñigo as she tries to talk to him.
She posted their story in her Facebook page "Momma Gree." Just make sure to prepare a tissue.
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[The writer appreciates story suggestions. Follow her on Instagram at @mommyaracasastumuran. Subscribe to her Youtube channel www.youtube.com/c/AraCasasTumuran.]