It was instantaneous. The moment the contact broke, the baby’s eyes flew open. A soundless gasp hitched in her throat.

The monitor, steady green a moment ago, shrieked.

BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP.

Her heart rate plummeted from 140 to 60 in three seconds. Her oxygen numbers flashed red, diving into the dangerous seventies.

She was turning blue — apnea of prematurity, triggered by sudden shock to her nervous system.

“Code blue, bed seven!” Evans shouted, panic cracking his voice as he tried to rush her to the incubator.