This holiday season, one SSM family had even more reasons to be thankful. Take a moment to read their story... Like most moms-to-be, Abby Guffey, corporate analyst in financial reporting for SSM Health, expected to have the typical nine months to prepare for her bundles of joy. She and her husband, Patrick, needed all the time they could get with two on the way! But at 23 weeks, Abby began experiencing pain. Just a few days later, she delivered Emma – 1 lb. 11 oz. – and Owen – 1 lb. 14 oz. – via Cesarean section on April 26, 2014. I was so confused and scared, Abby said. The statistics for viability were horrible. There was a minor chance they would be born without a small or significant handicap. At time of their birth, Abby and Patrick didnt have names for their children or know what they looked like. Abby only remembered seeing her tiny babies briefly in the incubator after their birth. Then, they were transported via helicopter to SSM Cardinal Glennon Childrens Medical Center for advanced neonatal care. She was able to visit them the next day. While the anxiety from their situation is still top of mind, so is the excellent care they received. Our care team at Glennon were miracle workers, Abby said. With them and the help of our primary care team, we had a greater level of comfort in the NICU knowing Emma and Owen would have consistent care. We are forever grateful for their commitment to our family. We wouldnt be here today celebrating their first Christmas if it wasnt for the amazing care we received from everyone. When he was just seven days old, Owen had a pulmonary hemorrhage and gastrointestinal perforation. He had emergency surgery to save his life, and two more surgeries to follow – one on his heart and the other to reconnect his bowel. He also has high blood pressure, which still has to be checked every 12 hours. Emma has bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or chronic lung disease, and struggled with eating while in the NICU. Abby praised the care provided by the team. She recalled helpful advice from Ayoob Ali, M.D., neonatologist at SSM Cardinal Glennon and associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Ali urged me to stay in the hospital with Emma and give her every feeding because babies thrive best with their mothers, Abby said. For five straight days, Abby didnt leave the hospital. She fed Emma herself every three hours, which ultimately led to her discharge from the NICU without a feeding tube. Our doctors were always on the frontend, trying to get ahead of the storm, Abby said. Even though Emma was the first born (by two minutes), Owen was the first home. After more than four months in the NICU, he was able to go home with medication to manage his blood pressure. A month later, Emma followed. She is still on oxygen and has an apnea and bradycardia monitor. Caring for her children on her own without medical supervision was nerve-wracking, Abby said, but she was well-prepared. At SSM Cardinal Glennon, she took CPR classes, learned how to take a blood pressure and administer medication through a syringe. She even attended a couple NICU support classes. It was a difficult time, but everyone – from the people at the front desk to those who came in to collect laundry and empty the trash – made it easier, Abby said. It was apparent everyone had our familys best interests in mind. Emma and Owen are extremely happy babies, doing well and gaining weight every day – each are now over 13 pounds – Abby said. They have a follow-up appointment soon and hope Emma will get the green light to go off oxygen. Abby- thank you for sharing your story!
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 01:00:00 +0000
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