First Christmas

Having already gone through emergency surgery at six weeks old, by Christmas  L was in desperate need of her second operation. She had finally risen to the top of the surgery list, her heart was repaired and the process of recovery had begun.

The carol singers came through intensive care that night, singing Away in a Manger.  No crying did those babies make, all hooked up to ventilators or ECMO, but some tears were shed by the nurses and the parents as the singers made their way between the cots.  

R looks like she’s ready to head-butt the nurse taking the photo.