Mia Rose Cumming during her time in the NICU at Columbia Presbyterian, Manhattan. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the new social distancing edicts underway to help "flatten the curve" of COVID -19, parents of preemies are well prepared in the ways of precautionary measures.
Catherine and Jeff Cumming of Huguenot, parents of Mia Rose, born a preemie, are a perfect example.
For them, handwashing, disinfection, and social distancing has been a way of life for almost three years.
On September 30, 2017, their baby Mia Rose was born at just 26 weeks, weighing in at one pound, at Stanley Children's Hospital, New York Presbyterian, Manhattan.
There, Mia Rose spent the next six months in the neonatal intensive care unit, followed by a two-month stint at Children's Specialized Rehab Center.
Today, Cumming still hopes Staten Islanders will heed the precaitions.
"The general public is healthy and don’t have to worry about this, but for my family, the coronavirus can put my daughter back on oxygen and get her very sick," said Catherine Cumming.
"I would ask everyone to listen to what is being told to them and stay inside unless you have to go out.
"And if you go out please be cautious. Cover your mouth!"
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Mia Rose Cumming during her time in the NICU at Columbia Presbyterian, Manhattan. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
High-risk pregnancy
"Mia only had a 10% chance of survival because she was so little and her lungs are so underdeveloped," said mom Catherine, a teacher.
"The scariest day was when her PDA (patent ductus arteriosis, caused by the ductus arteriosus not closing, causing blood to not bypass the lungs and go to the rest of the body) didn’t close and we watched the doctors bag her to bring her back and make her breathe again," she added.
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads like wildfire on our borough, Mia Rose's intervention therapy is now teletherapy, and social distancing is strictly employed.
The Cummings are imploring Staten Islanders to take extra precautions and encouraging everyone to stay home and wash their hands frequently, noting Mia's early intervention therapy is now tele-therapy, too.
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Mia Rose Cumming during her time in the NICU at Columbia Presbyterian, Manhattan. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
Complications in utero and beyond
Originally scheduled to give birth on Staten Island, Cumming discovered at her 20-week anatomy scan that Mia Rose had a genetic disorder.
The doctors predicted she would not live outside the womb.
"At that point, my gynecologist said to go to Columbia, where they discovered my placenta wasn’t giving Mia any nutrients," said Cumming.
A Doppler scan was ordered and done every few days, and at week 24, Mia's heart rate became suspicious. Cumming was admitted.
Two weeks later, Mia Rose was born.
Today, Mia Rose is able to breathe without oxygen, but still has chronic lung disease, bronchial dysplasia, and pulmonary hypertension.
"With the coronavirus pandemic, the challenges we face as a family are basically her health and development," said Catherine Cumming.
"She is doing great now but she is still physically and cognitively delayed and so we are being extra cautious about warding off infection."
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Mia Rose Cumming after her discharge from the NICU. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
Mia Rose's ongoing challenges
Now 2 years old, sanitary precautions are followed to the letter.
"We are constantly handwashing, disinfecting surfaces all over our home, and allowing Mia only to play outside in the backyard.
"Being a preemie, Mia Rose still isn’t talking and she just started walking, but we are grateful and have the help of our family, which has been amazing," said Catherine.
"With cold, regular flu, and allergies rampant also, we are limiting visitors and we have Lysol and hand sanitizer in every room of my house," she added.
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Mia Rose Cumming was born at 26 weeks and has just learned to walk at two years old. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
Beautiful Mia Rose Cumming no longer has her oxygen and is looking quite stylish these days. "She is my whole world and is the true definition of a miracle," added Catherine Cumming.
"I haven’t met someone so small fight so hard. She was meant to be in this world to do great things."
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Mia Rose during her time in the NICU at Columbia Presbyterian, Manhattan. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose during her time in the NICU at Columbia Presbyterian, Manhattan. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose during her time in the NICU at Columbia Presbyterian, Manhattan. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose during her time in the NICU at Columbia Presbyterian, Manhattan. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose Cumming enjoying her first night home, post-NICU. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose Cumming with her parents, Catherine and Jeff Cumming at her Baptism. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose Cumming enjoying time at home, post-NICU. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose Cumming with her parents, Catherine and Jeff Cumming at a family party. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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Mia Rose Cumming enjoying time at home, post-NICU. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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This warning sign is posted outside the Cumming home in Huguenot. Courtesy Catherine Cumming
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