My eldest grandson, Dvir, was born at Schneider Hospital exactly 20 years ago.
\nIt was Thursday morning. My daughter was urgently sent to the hospital, after the attending physician diagnosed \u201cpreeclampsia.\u201d Five minutes after the end of Shabbat, Liat entered my daughter into the delivery room (week 26!) for fear of liver damage. And so we had a premature baby born by cesarean section, weighing 769 grams.
\nThe family had difficult days, especially for the young parents, who had their firstborn son. In the early days, they \u201cwanted\u201d to be in the hospital. The doctor\u2019s answers, of course, did not ease the seriousness of their concerns. \u201cAs of this moment, he is fine,\u201d said the doctor, and continued, \u201cWhat will happen in an hour, I cannot say.\u201d
\nLife went on from hour to hour and day to day. Every passing day he added a few more grams. Every passing week added to the strength of the tiny little body. After 3-4 weeks the tension began to decrease. Visits were divided between the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
\nOne day I walk down the hallway leading to the nursery and see my daughter. \u201cLiat,\u201d I asked, \u201cwhere are you going?\u201d \u201cTo feed him,\u201d she replies. \u201cTo feed him\u201d? I asked myself. I followed her. She put on a gown and entered the nursery. I can\u2019t see clearly what she\u2019s doing or what the nurse is doing next to her. She comes out and I ask, \u201cHow did you feed him?\u201d \u201cUnder the nurse\u2019s guidance, I connected one thin tube to another,\u201d she says, a slight smile of happiness on her face, \u201cand that\u2019s how I fed him.\u201d<\/p>\n