Elis was born prematurely, weighing only 630 grams. This figure is very low even when compared to the standards for premature babies. A handful of lives. Yet so strong.
Today Elis is 13 years old and will be 14 years old in December. Together with his mother Ebru (49, insurance saleswoman) he will return to Sana Klinikum Offenbach (Hesse) on November 17, to the premature baby ward where he was rescued. Because it was World Prematurity Day.
“Elis and I, along with other families of premature babies, visited the wonderful team that cares for newborns who have difficult births all the time,” says Ebru Bülbül. “I am grateful every day that they made sure my daughter is safe and lives happily today.”
Size P2 premature baby diapers are for babies weighing less than 1000 grams. Even too big for newborn Elis (left)
No one knows whether Elis will survive
Ebru Bülbül previously had five Miscarriage has. On the sixth attempt, the baby died shortly after birth. When Ebru was pregnant with Elis, she experienced pregnancy poisoning. “The doctors told me to hold on, every day, every hour, every minute counts,” he said. Right before him kidney failed, Elis had to be picked up, mother’s life was threatened. No one knows whether Elis will survive.
Elis was born at 23 weeks’ gestation (SSW) with a body weight of 630 grams. In the following days, he lost almost 100 grams more due to the hard work he had to do. This effort is simply a necessity for survival.
► He has Brain hemorrhage first and second degree, underwent an artificial colostomy at two weeks and 550 grams more. He was on ventilation for almost eight weeks and his eyes were damaged by the oxygen supply.
A little more stable: Elis developed well within a few weeks of premature birth. Modern, cutting-edge medicine, the care of the ward team – and, most importantly, her mother’s love helped
Birth at the 23rd week of pregnancy
If a baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation, it is considered premature. For many people, some organs are underdeveloped. The earlier they are born, the lower their chances of survival, and the more serious the permanent impacts, especially in children Brain, Colon or Heart.
Mother Ebru was by Elis’ side most of the time. There is a thin tube in the baby’s nose, a tube that carries liquid food into the stomach
“You can’t hear him crying.”
“Their fingers are only half the size of a matchstick, and their skin is thin and transparent,” Ebru said. “You couldn’t hear him crying because he was on a ventilator. But I could see the way his mouth moved when he cried and I comforted him as best I could. He was in an incubator and he was having a hard time. And he was fighting so hard. It’s hard to imagine not being there.”
He Mother sat with him most of the time. “I sat with him in the pediatric intensive care unit from eight in the morning until two in the morning,” Ebru said. “We were there for eight months.”
Elis is always a little emotionally affected by her photos. She said: “When I looked at the photos I felt a bit sad. I was very small and had lots of tubes, including one in my nose. It looked strange and a bit ugly to me. I couldn’t imagine it was really me.”
Vitor Gatinho is a pediatrician at Sana Clinic Offenbach and also looked after Elis as a premature baby
Pediatrician Dr. Gatinho
Pediatrician Dr. Vitor Gatinho was monitoring the little girl’s progress in the children’s intensive care unit. “Elis was my first premature baby. I had only been in the intensive care unit for six weeks when she was born – a very small premature baby that I cared for alone for the first time in my career,” she said.
► They will spend several months together in Intensive care unit spent, often in very stressful and critical situations. “This intensive time had a huge impact. Elis will always remain special to me because she represents all children who show extraordinary strength despite experiencing a difficult start.”
When he sees Elis today, he is always touched, he said. “To see how a happy and healthy girl Standing in front of something that was once so small and vulnerable makes me feel so grateful.”
Elis: “When I came to the premature baby ward, I felt very warm inside. It was like coming home. The nurses and doctors were like a second family to me. Every year on my birthday, we visited the ward and always brought cake.”
Elis and her mother Ebru Bülbül in front of the clinic
What opportunities do premature babies have today?
Gatinho explains: “Modern medicine has made great progress in the care of premature babies. Specialized intensive care units, modern ventilation technology, close monitoring and the concept of individual care now make it possible for many very small babies Premature baby“To live a normal life.”
Children born at the end of the 24th week of pregnancy have a 50 to 60 percent chance of survival. Even premature babies weighing less than 500 grams can now survive.
“For parents, this means hope – and at the same time, a sense of security that they and their children will find well on this emotional journey,” he explains. “As far as treatment can go, closeness, patience and sensitive support remain essential family.”
Elis can go to a regular school
Elis only crawled at twelve months, took her first steps at 17 months, and only spoke at two and a half months. “But none of that matters anymore,” Ebru said. “He has developed great, very sweet Friends and very active.” To this day he cannot judge danger well, has difficulty concentrating and… Dyscalculia (calculation weakness). But he can go to a regular school with guidance.
Mrs. Elis: “I am very blessed and grateful. Many parents of premature babies write to me because they are going through something similar. I encourage them as best I can.”
She founded a WhatsApp group where many parents of premature babies exchange ideas. “This group is called ‘Wunderkinder.’ Because it is ours Children is a miracle.”
