Laura Jean’s NICU Story On October 13, 2005 at 4:30 AM I experienced (POM) and drove myself to Wellington Regional Hospital. My doctor (Patel) met me on the OB floor where they explained that the sack around the baby had a small leak resulting in an inadequate amount of amniotic fluid in the sack. Since the baby was only 20-21 weeks gestation the doctor explained I had to be transferred to a higher- level hospital with a level 4 NICU. Dr. Patel came in and broke the news… St. Mary’s would not take me because the baby was not at least 24 weeks gestation. Then, a miracle! Dr. Patel came in my room and said that she must have caught the nurse half asleep because, she agreed to take me. My heart leaped! I was given a steroid shot to help the baby’s lungs progress. By the time AMR arrived it was 7 A.M. and at the same time, Randy arrived at the hospital. He had been in Punta Gorda on business and had left to come home when I called him at 5 A.M. Upon arrival at St. Mary’s I was greeted by the ER staff who assured me I was in the best place. Then I met Dr. Kent, he gave me all of the brutal statistics and told me that he would not have began the steroids at such an early gestational state. However, since Dr. Patel had started the meds he would go ahead with the Magnesium. He explained that I would be in bed for the duration of my pregnancy. After a few days another sonogram was done showing the level of fluid in the sack had not gotten any better. The doctors explained the many risks associated with premature babies. Then they gave the option of allowing the baby to be born without resuscitation, which was not an option. On October 23rd St. Mary’s had began preparations for Hurricane Wilma, which was to make land fall the next day. That night, I began experiencing cramping and was told not to worry. My contractions began the next morning at 11 A.M. and continued throughout the storm. Since the baby was so small, the monitor did not register the contractions and by the time I was moved to labor and delivery the baby was here. At 24 weeks gestation Laura Jean Phillips was born on October 24, 2005 weighing 1 pound 5 ounces. She was 12 ¼ inches and she fit in the palm of her daddy’s hand. There were several NICU angels in the room and they went to work immediately. It was 9:20 P.M. when we were led into the NICU where we met Lindsay Michael, a NICU nurse. Lindsay became a great source of knowledge as she explained all that Laura Jean was enduring.(shout out!) After a week on full life support with ventilators and two different blood pressure medications she experienced a grade four IV Hemorrhage in her brain. On November 7th (my birthday), the neonatologist explained that Laura’s brain had suffered great damage from the bleed and that he felt she would not have the quality of life she deserved, that we deserved. He said that I was plenty young and had more time to have another baby and that if I was his wife he’d recommend disconnecting the machines. I was devastated and I could not bear to be inside of the NICU. I called Randy and my mother and requested they meet me at home to discuss our options. We prayed and prayed, harder than ever before. At six that evening the same doctor called and said that a neurologist had looked at the baby’s brain scan and said that the damage was not as bad as they thought but, I needed to come sign transfer papers because she needed heart surgery. On November 9th Laura Jean underwent PDA ligation at 10:50 AM in Jackson Memorial Hospital. Laura returned to St. Mary’s on November 11th weighing 1 pound 3 ounces. While I was in Miami I stayed in the Ronald McDonald House. Over the next month Laura made amazing progress and by December 12th she weighed 2 pounds. On December 14th, Laura’s 51st day in the NICU the ventilator was replaced with a nasal canula. We even put her in her first Christmas stocking for some priceless pictures. Then, on the morning of December 23rd I was informed the retinas in her eyes were detaching, which would cause blindness. The doctors told me that they were searching the state for and available ophthalmologist. Within the hour Laura Jean was transferred to Broward General Hospital. By 7:30 that night the Retinopathy was complete and the ventilator was replaced. Later we learned that Dr. Guthery, the doctor that had performed the eye surgery had interrupted his holiday vacation and flown in just to save our Laura’s sight. What an Angel! Laura remained at Broward General until January 20th, 2006. While in Broward Laura Jean was taken off of the vent, she began wearing clothes she started eating from a bottle, was removed from a number of medications and jumped up to 3 pounds 8 ounces. Laura Jean was in the NICU for 110 days and was discharged February 10th only 1 day before her actual due date weighing 4 pounds 10 ounces. Today October 24, 2013 that baby, which the doctors said would have no quality of life is 8 years old, she weighs 50+ pounds, is beginning to read, is an avid dancer and quite the little swimmer. Laura Jean cut 6 teeth at once when she was a baby and never cried. Today her two front teeth are on their way out. The bleed in her brain that was to be so damaging is and has been gone and she is beginning to read. Laura Jean is the happiest little lady I have ever encountered even though,I believe she knows true pain. Laura still has a long road of catch-up and we are not sure how well she sees but we thank God for the miraculous individuals he placed in our lives to save Laura Jean Phillips. We are so very blessed to have her. Happy Birthday Laura Jean!
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 07:02:25 +0000
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