Born at just 24 weeks and 5 days of gestation and weighing only 600 grams, the baby girl of Mrs. Duong Thi Tuyet Dung at Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children had to fight for her life from the very first moments.
Her tiny body had to gradually adapt to life outside the womb while her organs were still immature. In addition to respiratory failure and respiratory distress syndrome, she faced the risks of infection, metabolic complications, and other complications associated with extreme prematurity and prolonged oxygen support.
Doctors immediately provided resuscitation and respiratory support before transferring her to the Neonatal Department for intensive care. The days that followed became a long journey for this little girl – with every breath supported, her body kept warm, fluids and medications administered, phototherapy provided, and every small change in her condition closely monitored.
During her treatment, she was examined and screened by ophthalmologists with the support of an OMEGA 500 fundus examination device, donated by Ms. Thuy Trinh and the MoMo Piggy Bank community through the Neonatal Care program of Vietnam Children’s Fund Social Enterprise. The device gives doctors an additional tool to examine, monitor, and detect eye abnormalities in premature babies at an early stage, allowing appropriate treatment to be provided when needed.
And she is not the only baby who needs these examinations. Every day, the Neonatal Department continues to care for premature and low-birth-weight babies who require specialized care and close monitoring from the very beginning of life.
That is why Neonatal Care will continue supporting doctors in examining and monitoring the eye health of more babies at Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children. A device donated once can continue to serve many examinations, helping more babies receive timely detection and care – so their journey of growing up can begin with greater hope.
*Name changed to protect privacy.*
