Once again big thanks to everyone who read chapter six in particular: Eli2tkd, BrookeMarie2604, XosnapitzdaniiX, SammiiJaay, and Stacey.

I am going to mention once again that I am not a doctor and have never been in this situation with a premature baby so bare with me. I have done some research however and I will attempt to make it as accurate as is possible. Despite this I cannot guarantee it is completely accurate but I tried my best. So hope you enjoy it and I would welcome any feedback you wish to give me.


"Here he is" said the young nurse.

"We are just about to move him to the NICU as a precaution"

Every person who walked into the SCBU or NICU had to be thoroughly checked for any sign of illness that could be spread to the young, vulnerable infants. Any slight infection in an adult could be serious to these tiny babies most of whom were pre-term. Before Sam and Dylan entered the ward to see their son, they both had to be scanned for any viruses they may have picked up and since they both worked in a bustling ED it was even more likely that they would be carrying something. When they entered the room all you could see in every corner were large plastic incubators each containing another poorly baby. Many of these incubators were surrounded be people all the time: weather that was the parents, other family members or the doctors and nurses who were each assigned to their own baby to make sure that all the correct progress was being made before they were allowed home. Compared to every other baby on the unit Sam and Dylan's Son was relatively healthy. For his age he was a good length and weight but he needed to be ventilated 24 hours a day to ensure that he was breathing efficiently as his tiny lungs were not yet fully developed.

"How long until he will be allowed home?" Despite her medical training, when it came to her son Sam was a little in the dark as to what was actually happening, she had done a rotation on paediatrics during her training, but never wished to take it any further.

"Well he is doing very well but it will be a good few weeks yet"

Once their little baby had been transferred to the NICU the nurse needed a name so she could formalise his arrival and start to begin recording his notes.

"So have you got a name for this little man?"

"Yes" Sam replied smiling. "We are going to call him Isaac Jayden Keogh"

"That's a perfect name" replied the nurse as she went to fill in the name on the file which was always left blank until such a time where the parents had decided on a name. As most of the babies in the NICU were preemies their mums and dads may not have been as prepared for their arrival and therefore sometimes names took a little longer to decide on. Sometimes, parents would bring the whole family to help chose the perfect name for their new arrival.

Sam wanted to spent as much of her time as possible with Isaac during the day. Visiting hours for parents were not restricted and therefore Sam would be spending nearly every minute of the day with her son. However due to his premature arrival the doctors were still keen for Sam to be kept under observation, this meant that Sam had to agree to be admitted once she had seen her son for the first time. Of course this made the highly independent young woman rather irritated, but she knew it was for the best and as Dylan reminded her it was not just about her own health now: she needed to be there for Isaac also.

Dylan, who had been out for a coffee, rejoined Sam in the NICU just as Isaac was being settled in.

"I can't believe he is ours"

Sam jumped. She was so transfixed on watching her son she had not realised that her husband had appeared behind her.

"I can't believe it either" Sam spoke, almost in a whisper. She had been recalling all the times when she had taken pregnancy tests only for them to come back negative time and time again.

"Heyy, don't cry. What's the matter?"

"I'm not sure Dylan. I'm so happy that we finally got the baby we always wanted, but he is so small and fragile"

"But he is here now and you heard the doctors he is a fighter just like his mum"

"But he shouldn't be here yet. It's all my fault. Why could I not just keep him safe for a little while longer?" Sam placed one hand on her stomach.

"It's not your fault Samantha. If anyone is to blame it is me"

Sam did not respond instead she just buried hear head further into her husbands chest and wept against his pale blue shirt. After a few minutes of silence and just being happy with each others presence Dylan whispered into his wife's ear.

"I'm sorry"

"Why? You gave me the baby I have always wanted and you know that"

"Let's go and get something to eat, Isaac is asleep anyway"

"I don't want to leave him"

"I know it's hard but you will be no use to him if you are ill"

"Fine, but only quickly. I want to be here when he wakes up"


For the next week, Sam insisted that every night she was there to tuck her son into bed: despite knowing the fact that he would be waking up several times in the night to be fed. At 9pm every night she would make her way to the NICU from her ward and be there for Isaacs final feeding of the day. After 3 days he was able to be held to be fed and was spending more and more time out of his incubator. Despite his size, Isaac was now holding his own temperate and requiring very little or no oxygen during the day, for him it was now just time until he gained enough weight to go home. The last week had been so busy for Sam and Dylan and while on the observation ward Sam had not been able to get much sleep for this reason she was extremely relieved when after 5 days she was allowed to go home as long as she took things steady.

On Isaacs seventh night in the NICU Sam and Dylan had gone home exhausted. Dylan offered to cook dinner while Sam was taking a shower and winding down from the day. For Isaac it had been a good day. He now weighed 4lb 7oz, which meant he had gained a pound. Although this did not sound like much, every baby loses weight after birth so he was doing remarkably well. The goal was to reach 5lb before he was allowed home. When Dylan had finished dinner he called for Sam. After a few attempts she was still not acknowledging him, so he went in search of his wife. Dylan found Sam leaning over Isaacs, as of yet empty, cot.

She turned to Dylan as he stood in the doorway. "I can't wait to have him home, where he belongs"

"Me either, but he is in the best place right now"

"I know I just can't wait to be a proper mum to him, I have waited so long already"

"The nurses said he should be home in a couple of weeks then we can be a family again"

Despite trying her best, Sam could not hold back her tears any longer. She wanted her son home now. She felt useless while he was being cared for by other people.

"Sam, how about we go and see him one last time after dinner?"

"As much as I would love to: he is in a routine now. We cannot disrupt that or we will never get any sleep!"

"I suppose it's for the best"

Dylan led Sam to the kitchen table where they sat and ate before heading off to bed and falling asleep peacefully in each others arms.

Thanks for reading. Becky xx