Chapter 17 - Entering The Neonatal Intensive Care
The NICU was a quiet, sterile sanctuary filled with the soft hum of incubators and computerized monitoring equipment.
A pediatric nurse led me to Incubator Four, where a tiny, fragile infant lay beneath a clear plastic warming dome.
He was impossibly small, hooked up to a network of paper-thin IV lines and a miniature nasal cannula delivering oxygen.
“He’s a fighter, Mr. Vance; he came out breathing on his own despite the traumatic emergency delivery,” the nurse smiled warmly.
I pressed my palms against the clear plastic barrier, staring down at the miniature face that carried my exact features.
He had Elena’s delicate nose structure and my dark, thick hair tufts resting softly on his tiny head.
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“Hey there, little man,” I whispered, my voice cracking slightly as a hot tear finally broke free and tracked down my cheek.
“Your mother is the strongest woman on earth, and we are going to take care of both of you from now on.”
