Hello World

Hello.  My name is Corgan Layden.  I was born this morning at 05h23 at Parklands Hospital, Durban, South Africa.  My gestational age is 26 weeks...that means I was born 14 weeks (3 months) too early...I am named after William Patrick Corgan (Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins)...On Monday, while I was still in my mommy’s tummy it was estimated by a radiologist that I weighed 619g...everyone was worried because that is so small...the estimation was about 100g wrong! I weigh 520g...

2010.10.27 - The very first photo taken of me (by my daddy to show my mommy)

I am even smaller than I should be at 26 weeks...My doctor, Dr Jonathan Egner, aka the best doctor in the world, resuscitated and intubated me...I was alive and stable, on a ventilator...my daddy visited me a lot during the day...I was put into the Isolation Room in the NICU so that it was quieter for me as I am not familiar with all the noise in the outside world...I have been given these really ugly ear muffs to help muffle sound as well...I also have to wear “neoshades” which are usually used for when babies are put under phototherapy lights to treat jaundice...I have to wear them because my eyes are still closed and quite sensitive to the bright lights of the NICU...

2010.10.27 - My "Accessories"

my ears and eyes are still developing...my ears are like thin flaps of  skin...and my eyes are quite fused...I have also been given a little white beanie to wear...I had my first bowel movement already, which the nurses say is a good sign...I have arterial lines going into my belly button...some of my toes have gone a bit brown from the umbilical catheter...I have Cardio-respiratory monitor leads – one on either side of my chest and one on my left side...I have a temperature probe attached to my right side...I have a drip in my left arm...I have the smallest size Endotracheal tube inserted into my right nostril, it’s a bit of a tight fit…There is an Oximeter probe on my foot, the nurses alternate it between my hands and feet...For now I am being “fed” with TPN…I am still covered in lanugo…Tonight my mommy came to meet me for the first time...mommy and daddy were allowed to touch me for a little while...

2010.10.27 - The first time my mommy got to see me

If you would like to know what happened in the days and even moments leading up to my birth please read:
The Story Of Corgan Layden (Our Little Miracle)
The Lonely Waiting Room
A Little Birth