Though not technically due until April 17, micro-preemie baby Dougie has already been in the world for the past three months, fighting for his life in the Vancouver WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Douglas B次元官网网址淒ougieB次元官网网址� Mounce weighed just 2.2 pounds when he was born extremely early on Jan. 8 at just 25 weeks old to first time parents Julie Foster and Connor Mounce, embarking the new family on a stressful journey.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 definitely been a lot of scary days, thankfully less of them now, but still moments here and there. He is doing really good, all things considered,B次元官网网址� Julie said, with Dougie now over four times his birth weight at 8lbs 11oz.
There is still a long road ahead, but it has finally led them a bit closer to home after spending the past three months at the hospital in Vancouver.
B次元官网网址淥n Saturday the stars finally aligned and we were flown to Kelowna to finish out the rest of our stay in the NICU here,B次元官网网址� Julie said in an April 8 Facebook post.
That puts them much closer to their families and support system as both grew up in Sicamous but recently moved to Tappen. Though the transfer to Kelowna is a positive step, she added that the past month had been particularly stressful on the B次元官网网址減reemie rollercoaster,B次元官网网址� with Dougie experiencing a lot of bradycardia (low heart rate) and low oxygen levels in his blood.
Julie said now, however, he seems to be doing OK off oxygen, and theyB次元官网网址檙e focusing on breastfeeding so they can remove the feeding tube.
B次元官网网址淲e are on step four of a 12-step plan, but weB次元官网网址檝e been stuck on this step for four days now so I donB次元官网网址檛 really know how long we expect it to take,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚 sure wish I had a more concrete answer on what the next steps are, but one thing IB次元官网网址檝e learned through this is that things happen when they happen.B次元官网网址�
For the past three months, Julie and ConnorB次元官网网址檚 time has been fully dedicated to Dougie, with both constantly at his side in hospital. Though the move to Kelowna has allowed them to each have a quick visit home while the other stays with the baby, they continue to be unable to work as they navigate this journey, so ConnorB次元官网网址檚 sister Paige Mounce started a GoFundMe account to help cover costs and accumulating household bills.
The fund is currently at $4,876 of the $7,500 goal, but as thereB次元官网网址檚 no estimated date Dougie will be released, they appreciate the continued support.
B次元官网网址淲e look forward toB次元官网网址� getting to go home and getting settled into our new life as a family of three,B次元官网网址� Julie said in Facebook post. B次元官网网址淚 know Connor is looking forward to getting back to work on his business, but the reality is that just arenB次元官网网址檛 there quite yet.B次元官网网址�
Donations can be made on the GoFundMe website under , allowing them to focus on their little fighter.
B次元官网网址淗e is a tough little guy indeed,B次元官网网址� Julie said. B次元官网网址淎nd we are so proud of him.B次元官网网址�
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