Ditya was born prematurely at 27 weeks gestation. She was stable and growing well, but her health began deteriorating. Ditya was diagnosed with NEC. Pabita and her husband were terrified as the doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to save Ditya’s life.
Ditya slowly improved over the next few weeks, and after 8 weeks in the NICU, Pabita and her husband were certain they would be taking her home. But Ditya required an extensive bowel resection. Tragically, she could not recover from it. Precious Ditya passed away on her mother’s chest, surrounded by her family’s love.
“I just wish there were earlier warning signs so we could intervene sooner. I would do everything in my power to save my daughter so she could be here with us today.”
Pabita, Ditya's mom
What Helped
- Compassionate and clear communication
- Regular, honest updates, even when there was no change
- Emotional acknowledgement, whether it was fear, hope, or grief, meant everything
What Hurt
- Lack of clear information about NEC
- Feeling rushed during the most critical decisions
- Lack of transparency and consistency in clinical care among members of Ditya’s care team
What To Do
- Timely, transparent updates, especially when a baby’s condition changes
- Aligned, consistent care among all members of the care team
- Recognize the emotional weight of every decision
