When my daughter turned three weeks old, she started spitting up. Not the occasional dribbles I remembered from my other babies, but massive, full-throated exorcisms of barely-digested milk, spewing violently and without warning.
Thank you for sharing this story, it must have been really hard to live through it, but I’m so glad she’s doing well! Technology really is amazing, but it’s difficult to find a good balance. I think we are in the age where it’s a little overused, and that leads to rejection. The particilar question of screentime, for instance: watching some quality shows is not a bad thing, nor is playing with the right video games. I’m currently reading about the benefits of Minecraft. It’s a game I’ve deemed good for my kids, but I was still surprised how well it can be used in education.
Thank you for sharing such a powerful story. I can imagine what you have been through in those tough moments. So happy to know she is doing well!
The way you describe the technological sophistication of modern medicine alongside the intensely human moments of fear and relief captures a truth that often gets lost in conversations about technology.
Technology becomes most meaningful when it fades into the background. The machines, scans, and surgical tools are extraordinary, but what we remember most vividly are the human gestures surrounding them—the nurse’s voice, the doctor’s calm explanation, the feeling of holding a child who is finally safe. In that sense, the greatest success of technology may be when it quietly enables more space for those human moments.
So happy that the diagnosis was made rather quickly, and things were taken care of. Hopefully you felt cared for, too, as you worried about your daughter. This used to be big surgery, now done laparoscopically. Ultrasound had been a great tool since I was an intern. Cardiac echos were developed then. Yes, technology is everywhere, no more than in the NICU where I toiled for over 30 years. But the greatest impact is the human connection of the doctors and nurses that care for little babies, happily. Enjoy your baby girl, Mommy. ❤️
This is such a beautiful reflection, thank you for sharing it!
My little brother (now 30) had pyloric stenosis when he was a baby, too. My parents find some humor in it now, recounting the horror-movie-esque projectile vomiting, but like you they always reflect on how life-threatening it would have been even 50 years earlier. Sounds like technology has come even further since his surgery – he still has a raised scar on his belly. Even better to have been laparoscopic! Glad that your daughter is doing well now ♥️
Oh wow!! "horror-movie-esque projectile vomiting" is an excellent description...! So glad your brother was able to have such a good outcome, too. Thanks for the note!
I'm sorry y'all had to go through all that, and I'm glad that you're on the other side and everyone's okay!
This reminds me of some, in hindsight, unhinged emails I sent out when my first kid was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 8 days old. The combination of sleep deprivation and postpartum hormones and anxiety and fear... I am so impressed by how movingly and eloquently (and not at all unhinged-ly) you wrote about all this!
It's superhuman that you've been able to write about this with such clarity and insight in such close proximity to the event - all while being postpartum. Wishing you and your family peace, ease, and comfort! Thank you for your dedication to families and to making meaning out of such a harrowing experience for your readers - it's a profound act of service.
Your writing was exquisite! I’m grateful for you that your daughter is OK, and you really captured what it’s like to be a parent in that situation and feel so helpless. Humanity first
Certainly a harrowing experience for you all and I am pleased to learn that such a swift diagnosis and action delivered such a satisfactory outcome. May your daughter now grow and thrive!
Thank you for sharing this story, it must have been really hard to live through it, but I’m so glad she’s doing well! Technology really is amazing, but it’s difficult to find a good balance. I think we are in the age where it’s a little overused, and that leads to rejection. The particilar question of screentime, for instance: watching some quality shows is not a bad thing, nor is playing with the right video games. I’m currently reading about the benefits of Minecraft. It’s a game I’ve deemed good for my kids, but I was still surprised how well it can be used in education.
Thank you!! Yes - the question is how to find that balance!
I have since realized that Minecraft is a pretty cool tool for science visualization. I had no idea, but I’ve been having a lot of fun with it! You can check out an epidemiology illustration in my note here: https://substack.com/@scientistmom1/note/c-227641979?r=6uhv8a&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Loved this post. Beautifully written.
Thank you so much!
I teared up! This was a beautiful, relevant essay
Oh thank you!!
Thank you for sharing such a powerful story. I can imagine what you have been through in those tough moments. So happy to know she is doing well!
The way you describe the technological sophistication of modern medicine alongside the intensely human moments of fear and relief captures a truth that often gets lost in conversations about technology.
Technology becomes most meaningful when it fades into the background. The machines, scans, and surgical tools are extraordinary, but what we remember most vividly are the human gestures surrounding them—the nurse’s voice, the doctor’s calm explanation, the feeling of holding a child who is finally safe. In that sense, the greatest success of technology may be when it quietly enables more space for those human moments.
"Technology becomes most meaningful when it fades into the background. " Yes!!
So happy that the diagnosis was made rather quickly, and things were taken care of. Hopefully you felt cared for, too, as you worried about your daughter. This used to be big surgery, now done laparoscopically. Ultrasound had been a great tool since I was an intern. Cardiac echos were developed then. Yes, technology is everywhere, no more than in the NICU where I toiled for over 30 years. But the greatest impact is the human connection of the doctors and nurses that care for little babies, happily. Enjoy your baby girl, Mommy. ❤️
Thank you!!
Beautiful essay and such a gift to share your difficult experience to help remind us about perspective in the bigger picture.
Thank you so much Kathryn!
This is such a beautiful reflection, thank you for sharing it!
My little brother (now 30) had pyloric stenosis when he was a baby, too. My parents find some humor in it now, recounting the horror-movie-esque projectile vomiting, but like you they always reflect on how life-threatening it would have been even 50 years earlier. Sounds like technology has come even further since his surgery – he still has a raised scar on his belly. Even better to have been laparoscopic! Glad that your daughter is doing well now ♥️
Oh wow!! "horror-movie-esque projectile vomiting" is an excellent description...! So glad your brother was able to have such a good outcome, too. Thanks for the note!
I'm sorry y'all had to go through all that, and I'm glad that you're on the other side and everyone's okay!
This reminds me of some, in hindsight, unhinged emails I sent out when my first kid was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 8 days old. The combination of sleep deprivation and postpartum hormones and anxiety and fear... I am so impressed by how movingly and eloquently (and not at all unhinged-ly) you wrote about all this!
Oh thank you so much Rosa!! And that must have been so stressful - I hope your oldest is doing well now!
That sounds so scary. Thankful she's okay and thank you for sharing with us!
Thank you!!
Great post! I love your newsletter.
Oh thank you so much Amy!!
It's superhuman that you've been able to write about this with such clarity and insight in such close proximity to the event - all while being postpartum. Wishing you and your family peace, ease, and comfort! Thank you for your dedication to families and to making meaning out of such a harrowing experience for your readers - it's a profound act of service.
That is so kind of you, thank you so much Caroline! ❤️
Incredibly touched by this week's article. As usual, you stick the landing.
oh thank you so much Kami!
Your writing was exquisite! I’m grateful for you that your daughter is OK, and you really captured what it’s like to be a parent in that situation and feel so helpless. Humanity first
Thank you so much!
Beautiful reflection! ❤️
Thank you Emily!
Certainly a harrowing experience for you all and I am pleased to learn that such a swift diagnosis and action delivered such a satisfactory outcome. May your daughter now grow and thrive!
Thanks so much Howard!