My name is Wendee and I'm 18 years old. I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Ethan Jordan on April 25, 2007 through an emergency c-section. The reason for the c-section was that the placenta disconnected from the uterus cutting off all circulation of oxygen and nutrients to the baby. I was feeling pain the night before I went to the hospital, but being that this was my first pregnancy, I thought I was constipated.
When I got to the hospital, the baby's heartrate was in the low 60s. Everything happened so fast. I couldn't even sign the consent forms for the surgery! I was put to sleep during the surgery and I woke up to my sister by my side and a doctor at the foot of my bed. "Your baby was without oxygen for a long period of time and in situations like these, there's high risk that your baby won't make it." My heart broke into a million pieces. I didn't know what to think or how to react. Ethan was then transferred to another hospital because he required level 3 care. I got to see him for a mere 30 seconds before they took him away.
He spent 5 weeks in the NICU suffering from brain damage. He spent 4 days on a ventilator, 3/5 of those weeks on CPAP or a nasal canula. Every week he was in there, we had parent meetings with the doctors and everytime they would urge or "highly encourage" us to re-direct care. Meaning not prolonging our baby's life any longer and let him pass peacefully. They said that he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life, not be able to breathe on his own, eat nor move on his own.
A week before he was discharged, Ethan went into surgery to have a G-tube placed. It's been 5 weeks since he's been home and I'm glad to say that he is now completely feeding on his own by breast and bottle.
The reason why I started this topic is I would like to know if there are any other moms out there that have been in a similiar situation that we are in now and how their child turned out. We are taking it one day at a time and I have faith that he'll be okay because Ethan has and is continuing to prove the doctors wrong. But I would just like to know more. ↓
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| Name: sellis | Date: Jul 6th, 2007 10:58 PM |
| Bless you and your child's heart. I have a different situation with my son, but my thoughts and prayers go out to you both. ↑ |
| Name: anjelsin | Date: Jul 24th, 2007 4:56 PM |
Hi
My daughter was born very similar to your son but she was 2lb 2 oz and very premature. She is diagnosised with PVL due to lack of oxygen. She is 1 year and doing well but far behind. they say that she is going to have CP (cerebral palsy) She has vision issues also. I would recoment to see what kind of early intervention your county has... Ours is called birth to three. She recieves physical therapy occupational therapy and a teacher. Get involved wth therapys asap. The docs say only time will tell
Has your son had a brain scan. I would also recomend that.
Be as proactive as possible. ↑ |
| Name: VB | Date: Jul 24th, 2007 10:37 PM |
| My situation is different too, but I have to say, this child will teach you more than you can possibly know right now. He will amaze you and make you stop to smell the roses, something we've all learned to do...my children are both deaf (hear w/cochlear implants) and I can cry at the drop of the hat when my kids hear something knew for the first time. Little things become so exciting since most of us have taken those little things for granted all these years. Good luck to you guys and you get yourself some help like anjelsin above said...early intervention will tell you what you need to be doing and it's not your age, I was 26 when I had my first kid, I thought I knew what to do but they come out different than you had planned, even prepared moms need help. ↑ |
| Name: Kristen McClellan | Date: Sep 13th, 2007 7:16 PM |
Hi,
I'm a Junior majoring in special education and I just wanted to let you know that my thoughts go out to you and your family. I also just wanted to encourage you by letting you know that although your son's brain damage is very tough on you and your family, he is seen as a blessing!! Just know that people like myself are in this field to be able to help families such as yours. It's positive, caring parents like you that make us want to learn so much more and become the best educators for children with disabilities that we can become. Keep hanging in there!!! God bless. -Kristen ↑ |
| Name: Shahzad | Date: Apr 9th, 2011 2:46 PM |
I am from pakistan and i faced the same problem 100% .and the doctors discouraed me about my baby now she is 5 years old and walk through walker and try to make understand what she want she show her emotions and understand things.
so please keep connect with me and guide me what you are doing for treatment.
god may recover soon your sun i will prey form heart.
i will be very thankful to you for this act of kindness
my email is [email protected] ↑ |
| Name: DTeague | Date: Apr 23rd, 2011 1:22 AM |
My name is Denise and I went through roughly the exact same scenario. My daughter was without life for 15 mins, 3 transfustions, She had brady cardia, asphyxia, and seizures. She was placed on a ventilator and put in a drug induced coma. I was told the same things; she might not survive the night, or the next day, or the next week. But she was outbreathing the ventilator within ten hours after birth! Then the eating issues and kidney issues. Ihad to teach her to suckle the bottle, it was hard and tortuous to me, but we did it. They wanted to put a G-tube in her and I refused it. I knew that once I got her home, where it was peaceful and she could get the necessary sleep, she would eat better. They were not happy with my decision and warned me about putting her through surgery later. She was devouring her bottles appropriately within a week; she gained weight and was thriving. I got her enrolled in physical and occupation therapies. Today, she is 12, 80% fully functional and smart as can be. She doesn't walk, or talk and needs AFO's and a back brace. I home school her and she is better for it all. The doctors were not optimistic in anyway, but I was. And determined to make her life as full and best a child's can be. The doctors don't know it all, they don't have a crystal ball to say what your child will be like. Listen to your heart and do everything you can for your son. You are his mother, his advocate, and his voice. Do not let anyone tell you how to raise him. Seek out services, research therapists and programs, don't settle for anything less than you would for yourself.
Children are very resiliant; some more than others :)
You have a heart of gold, an angel for a son, and mission for you both. ↑ |
| Name: Beth | Date: May 6th, 2011 10:53 AM |
I have a 6 year old client that lives with me. I brought her home from the hospital at 3 mos. old. The Neuro Surgeon told me..."Basically this child has no brain". "She'll be a vegetable". I am a nurse and specialize in severely medically frail clients...feeding tubes, seizure disorders, respiratory issues etc...so this baby,we'll call her "lily" was right up my alley.
Lily is now 6 years old, she has autism, so communication is her biggest obstacle I think. She wheels her own wheelchair, she crawls or scoots on her bottom to get where she wants to go. She feeds herself, she counts to 10 and recognizes numbers 1-10. she knows her colors, shapes, and animal sounds. She is delayed, but oh my gosh...she is soooo smart, funny, and beautiful. She is the light of my life. I believe in Nurture vs. Nature. If this child had been placed in an institution...she wouldn't be where she is now developmentally. She is loved, cherished and exceptional. God bless you and your baby...don't listen to the Proffesionals all the time...listen to your heart. They tell you the worst that can happen so if the baby doesn't achieve milestones...they can be right....but I have found they (Dr.s) love to be wrong. Only your baby knows his limits... ↑ |
| Name: EMMYSMOM | Date: Jul 3rd, 2011 4:44 AM |
| I HAD THE MOST HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE DURING LABOR AND DELIVERY OF MY SON. 5 HOURS BEFORE THE OB/GYN WOULD FINALLY DO A C-SECTION HIS HEARTRATE DROPPED INTO THE 30'S AND NEVER FULLY RETURNED TO BASELINE. THE LACK OF OXYGEN HE SUFFERED CAUSED A STROKE WHICH CAUSED PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE CAUSING CP. HE IS 6 YEARS OLD NOW AND IS BEING MAINSTREAMED THIS YEAR INTO A REGULAR CLASSROOM. AFTER YEARS OF THERAPY, MOST PEOPLE DO NOT EVEN REALIZE HE HAS A DISABILITY WHEN THEY MEET HIM. THE ONGOING DIFFICULTY OF MEETING ALL HIS MEDICAL NEEDS IS STRESSFUL AS WELL AS MY FEARS FOR HOW HIS LIFE WILL BE AS HE GETS OLDER BUT ITS JUST PART OF THE JOB, ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU IN SOME WAY BUT FROM EXPERIENCE I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL FIND STRENGTH WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST FROM SEEING HOW STRONG YOUR CHILD TRULY IS NOT BECAUSE OF HER DISABILITY BUT IN SPITE OF IT. ↑ |
| Name: Jaison | Date: Sep 20th, 2011 6:11 AM |
| My son was born bwth mild birth asphixia, now he is completed 7 weeks, he was breathing immediately after delivery, but cried only after stimulation as per doctor report. There is no abnormality. Feeding well and all other actions are as normal till now. But I am still a little worried in the future ↑ |
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