The tender infant was born at Schneider Children’s in the 33rd week of pregnancy, weighing just 880 grams; she is the firstborn to her parents following 6 years of fertility treatments; the nurse who photographed her in a blue and white jumper knitted by her mother, said that the feeling in the department is tempered with joy and sadness, but each baby born brings new hope; the war in the nursery is every day – every preemie is an entire world
The Triumph of Life: Dana Beni is a nurse in the neonatal ward at Schneider Children’s Medical Center who treated a preemie born on the day the war broke out (Oct 7th). Following the premature birth of her oldest son Shalev about a decade ago, Dana decided to make a profession change. Over a month ago, she photographed the premature infant born in the neonatal department where she works, who symbolizes for her the sign of victory. Dana’s mother knitted a jumper for the infant in the colors of the flag of the State of Israel to strengthen the country and to represent the triumph of life.
Said Dana, “In 2013, my firstborn son was born in the 29th week of pregnancy weighing just 1.325 grams. When I looked at his delicate face, and held his tiny hand peeking through the incubator, I did not think for a moment that 10 years later, I would be in the role of caregiver – and mark International Premature Infants Day in the shadow of a difficult war.”
The month of November is Premature Infant Awareness Month, and this year, the prevailing feeling in the department among the staff and the families in the hospital, wavers between sadness and happiness – between despair and hope. “The war in the neonatal department is every day, day and night, as we work together with the families and the preemies and help them cope with the difficulties and the challenges they face – but knowing that we will win,” said a source within the department. “Together we will be victorious also in the current war, for us and for the future of our children.”
The preemie modelling the Zionist jumper was born in the 33rd week of pregnancy weighing only 880 grams. She arrived in the world after her mother underwent treatment for 6 years, and is the firstborn in her family. She was born in the middle of the Black Sabbath of October 7th, surrounded by sirens, to an Orthodox family who were unaware of what had happened in the country. The next day, the preemie was moved to the new fortified neonatal department at Schneider, together with all other premature infants.