I immediately called shon on the phone frantic and crying he came to the doctors right away...we sat and talked to them about what the next step would be and they told me I would have to deliver you that day and by C-section...more SHOCK!!! I worried were you ready to arrive, what was the c-section going to be like as my last five births had all been natural....
so we went home and dropped off my younger two with Darlene my sweet friend and she said she would care for them I then went home made a few phone calls and packed my bags for the unknown...I arrived at Sentara Norfolk General just after lunch and they did more ultrasounds and spoke with more doctors as to what the plan would be....the decision was made you would be delivered by dinner time...
I had alot of anxiety about the c-section and what was going to take place when you were born...but Our campus Pastor Debbie Warren came with her husband and prayed for us and helped calm me...they stayed during the surgery in the waiting room.....
minutes after you were born they immediately took you over to a table and started to pull the fluid out with a needle very scary to watch but if they hadn't of removed it you wouldn't have been able to take your first breathe.....they then stabilized you and then took you over to CHKD where you 6 week adventure began.....
I was able to go over and see you after I was awake and feeling better by then they had tapped your lungs a few more times.....this went on for a few days in the meantime they intubated you and gave you meds to keep you sleepy so your body would rest.....they started discussing what you may have and they said it was either a chylothorax or lymphatasia (sorry about the spelling) so they started treatment on the chylothorax but a few weeks into it we were not seeing a change...our hopes were dashed and we were very tired....we spent about 3 times a day making drives to and from CHKD from Va beach to Norfolk all the while trying to heal myself from a lovely spinal headache from surgery and caring for my other 5 at home....we had generous people from church bringing us meals and helping get kids to camp...what a blessing that was....
at about 4 weeks of age you became not well at all...everything they were trying was not working to bring the levels down...the left side has resolved itself a few weeks back but the right side was still putting out over 400 cc a day of fluid YIKES!!! so we were called in for a care conference with the doctors, nurse, the surgeon and a chaplain....They told us you were VERY VERY ill at this point and each and everyday was touch and go....our only option at this point was to go in for surgery and place a shunt in your chest cavity to your bladder to expel the fluid and let your body do the work....but we were told that they didn't see you living till about age one or so even with this option...Most children they have found with this disease was in autopsy...(tears were streaming down both of our faces) we didn't know what to think or do but it looked like that was our only option....
so after leaving the conference the chaplain pulled us aside and asked us if we would like to go back to your bedside and pray over you....we agreed because at this point it wouldn't hurt anything..so our Day nurse Lisa, shon the chaplain and I all went back to you and he spoke the most beautiful prayer and we weaped some more and just sat looking at you for hours after that....we went home that day in very somber moods....we didn't know what to tell your siblings and we didn't know what lied ahead for all of us...it was very hard to sleep that night but we did the best we could....
The next day we got up showered and prepared for our drive in to see you....When we got there we were shocked and amazed....you were starting to show signs of improvement the fluid levels were dropping YEAH!!!!! we tried not to get our hopes up but that week was your best week yet...the levels kept dropping and dropping till there wasn't almost any fluid coming out then they made the decision to take your breathing tube out and let you wake up more..NO SURGERY NEEDED!!!...then days later came trying to feed you (mommy's milk too!!! something they told us you probably wouldn't be able to ever have) and then they moved to to the step down unit where we were able to hold you all we wanted ( we first got to hold her at 2 weeks of age and not really anymore after that) which was so nice your daddy would come and just sit in the recliner and hold you and talk and sing and sleep with you....to see the smile on his face was priceless....at six weeks of age on July 28th, 2005 they released you out of the hospital and home with us the best day of our lives...God has definitely given us a miracle and we never take it for granted....
Last year on June 19th, 2009 we got another scare that brought us to our knees in prayer when you swallowed a button battery out of a remote control.....we almost lost you again and this time was just as scary as the first time....but the doctors were there and god was watching over you....he isn't ready for you yet...so we live everyday with you and enjoy every moment as if it would be our last life is precious and you are a gem...
So today you have turned 5 and are registered for kindergarten...you have had 4 chest tubes and you still have the marks in your heal from all the blood taken for blood gases, you have had 3 eye surgeries and had your tonsils and adnoids removed...you are one of the strongest, sweetest little girls I have ever met, you are filled with wisdom beyond believe and you make me laugh each and everyday....you are a beautiful young lady and I cannot wait to see what god has laid out for your future BIG THINGS I can see....
