Chapter 1: The Last Check Before Going Home
Emily had one foot out the door when her pager vibrated.
A final request from the neonatal intensive care unit.
She nearly groaned.
Every muscle in her body ached.
All she wanted was sleep.
But something in the message caught her attention.
Twin infants. One stable. One critical.
With a sigh, she turned around and headed back toward the NICU.
The room was quiet except for the steady beeping of monitors.
Inside one incubator lay baby Noah.
Healthy.
Strong.
Breathing on his own.
In the neighboring incubator was his twin sister, Lily.
Tiny.
Fragile.
Fighting for every breath.
Doctors had done everything possible.
But Lily's condition continued to worsen.
The parents had been sent home briefly to rest after nearly three days without sleep.
Emily stood beside the incubator and looked at the little girl.
The sight broke her heart.
Then she remembered a recent hospital study about monitored sibling contact among twins.
An idea formed.
A risky one.
After consulting with the attending physician and receiving approval, Emily carefully lifted Noah and placed him beside his sister under close supervision.
The healthy twin instinctively shifted closer.
Tiny fingers brushing against Lily's arm.
The entire nursing station watched.
At first nothing happened.
Then...
A monitor beep changed.
One nurse sat upright.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at the screen.
Lily's oxygen levels were climbing.
Slowly.
May you like
Steadily.
As if her tiny body had suddenly found a reason to keep fighting.
