From this day we (Sebastian’s nurses and his family) started entering little stories in Sebastian’s diary. The first entry is by nurse Danielle.

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English translation

Dear Sebastian,

Already 5 days old today! You were born on the 15th in Rotterdam after a pregnancy of 28 weeks and 3 days. Because your mama was very sick you were delivered by a C-section. You are still a very small man weighing only 875 grams (so less than a pack of sugar). Because your longs are not quite ripe yet you are being assisted by a mechanical ventilator. To keep you at a steady temperature you are lying in an incubator. You are getting tiny amounts of food (6 x 1ml). Currently this is artificial feeding, but in a little while you will be getting mama milk (She’ll be your personal milk factory). For now this will be administered through a feeding tube, however as soon as you get big and strong enough you can try to do it yourself.

I understood from papa and mama that they always call you “little monkey”, but I like Sebastian a whole lot more. At the moment you are sunbathing under a phototherapy lamp because your skin looks a little yellow. Most of the day you are sleeping soundly which is great because it helps you grow. But sometimes….you open your little eyes and try to get an impression of what is happening around you. You have a beautifull purple pacifier on which you can suck with great enthusiasm (good exercise for later). Yesterday papa and mama brought you a stuffed “hugging” giraffe. It smells like mama and is lying right next to you in the incubator (your first best friend).

Well, little man, keep on sleeping for a little longer, and later you papa and mama will come and visit you again.

Love, Danielle