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July 2013 Moms
Good Thoughts for my Friend (semi-long; x-posted on BMBs) *UPDATED IN COMMENTS*
T&P's just sounds too cheesy.
Some of you may know that I have a friend whose little girl was born with gastrochisis (like gutsymama's Luke). She had an extremely severe case, and they weren't very confident that she would live, or even eat during her lifetime if she did (at 24 weeks, after they discovered the severity, the doctor recommended termination). Well, her daughter has beaten the odds and is surviving. Her and her mother are both warriors. Baby D is still vomiting or poopsplosioning two to three times a night because she just doesn't digest or retain food well. I'm not sure how her mother does it; she is truly an amazing person, and still tries to see the best in everything.... all while wrangling FOUR other children and a new business.
Baby D is still receiving the majority of her nutrients through TPN, and routinely goes for additional special intraveinous nutrients at the hospital to keep her vitamins and minerals up. She's also been in multiple times for infections, and once for sepsis. Her poor little immune system.
Tomorrow, she will be in surgery (again) for the STEP procedure. They're basically going to disconnect her digestive system (again), and "sew" her bowel in a zig-zag in order to bring down the circumference and increase the length to give her better absorption from the food she takes in. Then she'll have to stay in hospital for a few months while her digestive system heals, and will have to have another surgery to reconnect everything after the fact.
I am in tears. They're such amazing people. Baby D is only 18 months old, and has to be in surgery again, twice. I couldn't imagine having to take my baby in for this kind of surgery... and then to have to deny her food for such a long period of time while her body heals. I am truly heartbroken for them, but hope that the longterm gain is worth the pain of these surgeries.
If you can spare some good thoughts, or some strong prayers if you're the praying type, it would be much appreciated. I can't express how much Baby D and her mom mean to me, even though we live far away from each other these days. Surgery is scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning.
Some of you may know that I have a friend whose little girl was born with gastrochisis (like gutsymama's Luke). She had an extremely severe case, and they weren't very confident that she would live, or even eat during her lifetime if she did (at 24 weeks, after they discovered the severity, the doctor recommended termination). Well, her daughter has beaten the odds and is surviving. Her and her mother are both warriors. Baby D is still vomiting or poopsplosioning two to three times a night because she just doesn't digest or retain food well. I'm not sure how her mother does it; she is truly an amazing person, and still tries to see the best in everything.... all while wrangling FOUR other children and a new business.
Baby D is still receiving the majority of her nutrients through TPN, and routinely goes for additional special intraveinous nutrients at the hospital to keep her vitamins and minerals up. She's also been in multiple times for infections, and once for sepsis. Her poor little immune system.
Tomorrow, she will be in surgery (again) for the STEP procedure. They're basically going to disconnect her digestive system (again), and "sew" her bowel in a zig-zag in order to bring down the circumference and increase the length to give her better absorption from the food she takes in. Then she'll have to stay in hospital for a few months while her digestive system heals, and will have to have another surgery to reconnect everything after the fact.
I am in tears. They're such amazing people. Baby D is only 18 months old, and has to be in surgery again, twice. I couldn't imagine having to take my baby in for this kind of surgery... and then to have to deny her food for such a long period of time while her body heals. I am truly heartbroken for them, but hope that the longterm gain is worth the pain of these surgeries.
If you can spare some good thoughts, or some strong prayers if you're the praying type, it would be much appreciated. I can't express how much Baby D and her mom mean to me, even though we live far away from each other these days. Surgery is scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning.
Monster Truck (It's a GIRL!) is due 19/02/2015!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Good Thoughts for my Friend (semi-long; x-posted on BMBs) *UPDATED IN COMMENTS*
*hugs* for you. It is so hard to be far from ones we care about when we know they need support.
Baby boy 7.10.13
D 2.20.2011 & Z 7.16.2013
DS born at 34 weeks with (surprise!) gastroschisis turned short bowel syndrome.
131 days in the NICU, 7 trips to the OR, G-button, daily TPN....
Monster Truck (It's a GIRL!) is due 19/02/2015!
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
Married: 4/5/13
"You know that place between sleep and awake,
that place where you can still remember dreaming?
That's where I will always love you.
That's where I'll be waiting."
~Peter Pan
*TW*
BFP #2: 10/29/17 MMC dx @ 9 weeks
BFP #3: 2/2/18 MC 2/7/18
BFP #4: 3/2/18 MC 3/9/18
RPL testing and hysteroscopy: all normal
BFP #5: 4/1/18 MMC dx @ 14 weeks ----> genetically normal girl
Hysteroscopy to remove scar tissue 9/28
BFP #6 11/5/18 EDD 7/20/19
BFP #7 12/8/2021 EDD 8/22/2022
Baby D is out of surgery. At the time of her birth, she only had 30cm of bowel. When they went in to do the surgery today, her bowel had lengthened to 90cm, and after the procedure, she's up to 150cm of bowel!
They think she may actually be able to eat for nutrition, and may not have to be on TPN her whole life. I am so, so happy and excited for them, even though there is a long road ahead for her recovery.
Thank you everybody for your kind thoughts and words. It makes such a difference in these difficult situations. I am so relieved, and hoping for a speedy recovery. What a whirlwind turn of events!
Monster Truck (It's a GIRL!) is due 19/02/2015!