Friday, March 30, 2007, 10:09 a.m., D.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~

Dear Journal~

Louie here. I clocked in for my lunch break just now, so I have time to write in here, in my journal.

I am working the NICU ("Nick-you"), or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I am working with the tiny neonates who are either critically ill or who were born weighing less than five pounds. The lightest baby now in the unit is Baby Boy Cortes*, who weighed just ten ounces at birth (he is now up to a "whopping" 12 1/2 ounces, just under a pound); the heaviest baby is Baby Boy Dominguez*, who weighed a hefty 13 1/2 pounds at birth. He's a whopper: he's the first baby you notice upon entering the NICU.

(*Note: These are not the children's real names, for reasons of confidentiality. With my own kids, it's a completely different story.)

Both boys are very sick, according to their primary doctors, particularly Baby Boy Cortes. Baby Boy Cortes was born withan imperforate (inompletely formed) anus, immature lungs/severe breathing problems, and a huge hiatal hernia that may require imeediate emergency surgery. He's in pretty bad shape.

If the little guy survives, it will be a miracle.

As for Baby Boy Dominguez, he has jaundice and has to lie under special bright lights to raise the bilirubin levels in his system. When the bilirubin levels go up, the jaundice will go away. If left untreated, it can cause serious medical problems with his liver, amongst other things.

It is nice to be out of the Medical Intensive Care Unit ("Mick You"; we nurses have to abbreviate everything, it's easier on us) and working with the little babies. I haven't worked with the kiddies in quite a long time (unless they came to the ER while I was working there).

I talked to Kendra, my friend in Soulsbysville, California, last night; she was distraught and to the point of tears. It seems that her daughter, Kia, was raped by (she thinks) by one of the young hoodlums who teased her by kicking her crutches out from under her, causing her to fall flat onto her face.

As you can imagine, Kia feels violated against. At the news, I cried: I can't imagine anyone doing something so horrible to anyone, especially a child--or a child who happens to be disabled. Kia is a softspoken teenager who wouldn't hurt a fly, with a sweet personality; why would anyone stoop so low to do this? I just don't understand--

I am taking two weeks off starting on Monday, which means I'll be off for Easter. I am going to miss my co-workers, but I have been working way too many doubles lately (darned nursing shortage!); I need a break!

Well, I am going to end this now. I am going to eat in the cafeteria before there's little choice for me to eat. Take care; will write in here again! God bless!

~Love, your friend, Louie May. :(