Dr Manning-Alleyne is a national hero

On January 31, 2004 we became the proud parents of triplets — identical twin girls and a boy. They were born at the PoS General Hospital 10 weeks premature, weighing just about 2 lbs each and all three were gravely ill.

The babies were placed in the care of Dr Petronella Manning-Alleyne and her team of nurses and doctors at the Neonatal Unit, more commonly known as the "Prem Unit".

Three days after birth, we tragically lost one of our precious angels. Dr Manning-Alleyne and her team consistently consulted with us with passion and concern, and while always keeping us aware of the possibility that we may in fact lose all three, they made it very clear that they were going to do everything in their power to save our two remaining children.

The stark reality of potentially losing all of our first born as well as witnessing the devastating losses experienced by several other parents during our six plus weeks at the hospital ensured that rational thinking on our part superseded emotional histrionics.

Today, against all the odds, our two babies are healthy and happy and nearing their second birthday.

The point of this letter is therefore not to debate the whys and wherefores of blood transfusions and the proposed alternatives — our babies, by the way, received several — but to make the observation which appears to have been lost on most people that Dr Manning-Alleyne and her team at the Prem Unit care about saving babies’ lives, full-stop.

Parents may not truly understand the measures and steps taken by those who have their babies in their care at that particular point in time, but I can guarantee that six months later in fact, for the rest of their lives — they will grow to understand and remain eternally grateful for the heroic actions taken by others in the interest of their own.

We would like to publicly acknowledge Dr Manning-Alleyne, and all the Neonatal doctors, nurses and nursing assistants at the PoS General Hospital for their continuing efforts above and beyond the call, in spite of the obvious resource challenges faced, and for their patience, commitment and determination to provide quality neonatal health care.

During the triplet pregnancy, we were reliably informed that the best chance for our babies’ survival would be at the PoS General Hospital, in the care of Dr Manning-Alleyne and her team. We have never once regretted that decision.

T SHAW

Port-of-Spain