Related thematic articles: Shi Guoqin was in tears when she saw her child being treated. Reporter Ran Wen took the photo.
Treating the severely ill premature twins, the economically strapped parents can only choose one of the two.
Shi Guoqin from Yudong in Banan District gave birth prematurely to a pair of twin brothers due to suffering from gestational diabetes during pregnancy. These twins are threatened with life due to congenital developmental disabilities. Because the family is not wealthy, this family faces a difficult choice - giving up on the treatment of one child to save the life of the other child.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Shi Guoqin came to Daping Hospital again. This was the second time they had seen their twin sons, and they would make a difficult choice.
Pregnant with twins
But suffering from gestational diabetes
30-year-old Shi Guoqin works as a physical education teacher at Shigang Primary School in Banan District, and her husband Yang Yunqi drives for a private boss. In March this year, Shi Guoqin went to the hospital for a check-up and found out that she was pregnant, immediately excitedly calling her husband to tell him. Shi Guoqin and her husband made all preparations to welcome the new life.
In April, Shi Guoqin went to Banan People's Hospital for prenatal examination, and learned from the doctor that she might be carrying twins. The next month, the school organized a medical examination, and the doctor confirmed again that Shi Guoqin was carrying twins.
Shi Guoqin and her husband agreed to work harder to earn money to support these twins. Unexpectedly, Shi Guoqin was then diagnosed with gestational diabetes, but the two insisted on having the children, and the doctor prescribed some antihypertensive drugs for Shi Guoqin. "As long as I pay attention to my diet and take good care of myself, there should be no problem," Shi Guoqin firmly believed.
The birth of twins
Admitted to the intensive care unit
On November 17, Shi Guoqin went to Banan People's Hospital for prenatal examination, dried fruit, and cooperated with antihypertensive treatment. After the examination, the doctor told Shi Guoqin that her condition was very dangerous, and if she did not undergo immediate cesarean delivery, it could lead to cerebral vascular rupture in the pregnant woman, endangering her life.
The couple agreed to the surgery. Banan People's Hospital had already arranged Daping Hospital before the operation. Around 10:30 PM on November 17, the twin brothers were born after staying in their mother's belly for 33 weeks, coming into the world nearly two months early. At birth, both weighed only two kilograms. An hour after birth, the two infants were transferred to Daping Hospital due to oxygen deficiency during childbirth and congenital developmental disabilities.
Dr. Hu Zhangxue of the Department of Pediatrics at Daping Hospital introduced that the children were very weak due to premature birth. When sent to the hospital that day, after examination, both children were infected with fungi, "and they have not yet escaped the danger of life." Dr. Hu Zhangxue said that the fungus was detected in the blood of the two brothers, indicating a systemic infection.
Dr. Hu Zhangxue said that the elder brother's condition was slightly better, he could breathe independently and eat, but his brain may have been affected. The younger brother's condition was very serious, he had stopped breathing twice, and due to lack of oxygen, it was basically determined that his brain had been damaged, and he currently had to rely on a ventilator to breathe.
Give up which one
For them, it's like cutting flesh
To treat their two sons, they spent 40,000 yuan. Facing the high subsequent treatment costs, the couple used up their savings, which was just a drop in the bucket.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Shi Guoqin came to Daping Hospital again, hoping that the doctors would make an exception and let them see their children: "Since birth, we've only seen them once." Looking at the heart-wrenching Mr. and Mrs. Shi Guoqin, the patients collectively pleaded with the doctor: "Let them see the children."
At 4 pm, the doctor agreed that only one person could enter the intensive care unit to see the children. Shi Guoqin put on a sterile suit, wore a mask and shoe covers, and quietly walked into the glass ward. "Child, let Mommy touch your little face." Shi Guoqin couldn't help but burst into tears; they hadn't named the children yet, so they called them "Daduo" and "Xiaoduo". Shi Guoqin touched the cheeks and stomach of the elder brother and asked the doctor to let her see the "Xiaoduo" in another isolation ward.
"Fearing that it would stimulate the mother who is still sitting in confinement, we did not agree." The doctor excused the strict management of the ward, saying bacteria must not enter, and gently persuaded Shi Guoqin back.
Dr. Hu Zhangxue said that the younger brother had a much higher chance of developing sequelae than the elder brother, and even if he survived, he might become paralyzed or suffer from cerebral palsy. Considering Shi Guoqin's family's financial difficulties, the hospital has tried to reduce some expenses as much as possible.
Difficult decision
Abandoning the younger brother to save the elder brother
After seeing the children, Shi Guoqin sat outside the intensive care unit, unwilling to leave.
The couple sat silently side by side outside the ward. After a long time, Shi Guoqin said to her husband: "If it really doesn't work, we can only give up 'Xiaoduo' and save 'Daduo'!"
Yang Yunqi held his wife's icy hands, trembling all over, tears streaming down his face: "Maybe we can only do this."
Reporter Zhu Juan
> Related reading: Twin babies suffered fungal infections after birth and could only choose one of the two (with pictures)