DENVER, Colo. – It’s hard not to take your eyes off of a newborn baby. But for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parents, they can’t always be at the hospital by their side. This Christmas, with the help of technology, Santa’s not the only one watching over the babies.
For first time parents Austing and Aubree Porter, they had their twin boys nearly three months early.
"Hudson was 1 pound 6 ounces and Rhodes was 2 pounds 12 ounces,” said Aubree. “So, he was exactly half the size of him."
The twins have been in the NICU throughout the holiday season.
"We are here to let them grow,” said Aubree. “When I was pregnant, there was a growth restriction with the little one. So, we are here probably until February."
Seeing the babies in the NICU is hard enough, but the hardest part has been leaving the hospital without them. Until then, the hospital gave them a NICVIEW camera.
"They allow the families to go online to view their babies,” said Cheryl Sepesy, a nurse at the hospital. “The camera runs 24/7 so they can go in and look at their babies at any time and just see how they are doing."
The little camera is facing the babies at all time. It has changed the game for NICU parents like the Porters. It’s given them the gift of being able to bond with their babies no matter where they are.
"I wake up multiple times and log in to just check to see how they are sleeping,” said Aubree.
Aubree and Austin have also passed the link to their parent to login and watch the boys from across the country. It might not be the Christmas they hoped for, but it’s one they will never forget.
"I can't imagine being anywhere else or not being able to see them," said Aubree.
