Friday, July 13, 2012

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

If I am going to share a research story that touched my personal life I am going to share the story of Kangaroo care. This method of skin-to-skin after birth for preterm babies was a novelty thirty years ago. A group of researchers were finding that premature babies did quite well at their mother's body rather than in an incubator. Dr. Nils Bergman, conducted several studies overseas to document the positive effects of this new method of neonatal care. Having a baby stay against mom's skin in a make-shift pouch, like a kangaroo baby. Here is a link to one of his study papers.


The reason this research is important to me is because it saved my baby sister's life. Literally! My baby sister, Juliana, was born a few months before her due date in a hospital in Colombia. There were no incubators available for the usual neonatal care provided to preterm babies. The doctors did not know what else to do for my sister. One of them was familiar with this new (thirty years ago it was a really unknown method) technique of Kangaroo care. They told my mom the risk was great, but there was a slight chance it might work. I can attest my sister is alive and healthy today! Research saved her.

A picture of Juliana in our mom's arms

A family moment for Juliana's birthday last year!

Posted by at

4 comments:

  1. Erika RiesingerJuly 14, 2012 at 11:48 AM

    Angela,
    Thank you for sharing your personal research story. I have heard about skin-to-skin contact for mothers and premature babies. Your story is truly a miracle. Isn’t it amazing how much research is in our lives that we are unaware of? Until this course, I was not aware of the various research methods that we are exposed to on a daily basis. As I learn the terminology, research methods become clearer. The article you attached is very interesting. I only looked briefly at it, but I am interested in reading further to learn more about it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kid's R FirstJuly 14, 2012 at 2:45 PM

    Angela

    What a great research story. I had never heard of this research. I was really touched and thanks for sharing the story about your sister, research saves lives.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lois WachtelJuly 14, 2012 at 3:15 PM

    Angela, thank you for sharing a part of your family with us. Your sister is living proof of the importance of research. I have never heard about skin-to-skin contact for mothers and premature babies, so I was interested in the article, too. It's as if research is all around us, and yet, so many of the terms and ideas are just beginning to surface for us. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MoniqueJuly 17, 2012 at 11:23 AM

    That was such an amazing story! Your sister is so blessed to have you! It is great that with all the research that was done you and your family took the necessary steps to save her life. It was risky, because the doctors told you that it may not work. I think that it's amazing that you stepped out on faith and believed not only in the researchers but also in God.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)