Parents Partnered for Preemies is a group that supports parents that have had premature babies born at Northside Hospital such as our sweet baby Vera. They organize events such as the Preemie reunion once a year plus gather donations, care packages, etc. for parents of newly born preemies in the NCIU.
They also put out a monthly newsletter. Holly submitted Vera's story and it got accepted into this month's issue. I copied it below for all to enjoy.
Vera’s StoryMy pregnancy had moved along with all the typical milestones; hearing baby's heart beat, first glimpse of her via ultra sound, and all the other joys of pregnancy. Everything was going according to plan and schedule, until week thirty-two. In that one week I had an amazing weight gain of seven pounds. I had already gained forty plus pounds, and this was the breaking point for me. I nervously headed to my OBGYN for some answers. I was told that it was nothing more then water weight, and that I needed to watch my sodium intake and portion size. I could feel baby Vera kicking in my tummy, so I assumed that all was well, but in my heart I knew something was not right. The next day my feet had ballooned over the tops of my shoes. As a high school teacher, you know something is wrong when the students were concerned and tell you to take it easy. I packed up all my papers to grade and went home to elevate my feet for the weekend; that's what everyone had told me to do for swell-ing. I had no idea that afternoon I would began the ordeal that would eventually lead to Vera's premature birth.
I could not get comfortable, no matter I did, and spent all Friday night moving between the bathtub and the bed. I began to get sick, physically sick. Being my first baby, I did not want to go back to the doctor and have her think I was crazy. I decided to call the nurse advice line. After speaking with a nurse and giving her my symptoms, it was decided that I might have caught a bug while teaching. I continued my regimen of doing anything necessary to attempt to sleep and get comfy. I awoke to blood in my urine and that was it. I went to the emergency doctor and was again told that I had a urinary track infection and was given antibiotics. I suffered through another night of pain with the only thought being that the antibiotics would make me feel better soon. They did not, and Sunday morning I headed to Northside, despite multiple people advising me to go see my OBGYN the following day. In hindsight, I should have trusted my instinct from the start; I would encourage all expectant mothers to do the same.
I was admitted, and a wonderful nurse examined me. I will never forget the look she had on her face as she pressed my ankles back and forth. My husband nervously asked what the issue was, and when we would be getting discharged. She simply asked, "how do you take news?" She then proceeded to tell us that the baby would have to be taken via c-section right away. I had HELLP syndrome and my kidneys and liver were shutting down. The only cure was to deliver Vera right away. After receiving news that I would be deliver-ing my baby at 32 and a half weeks, I said goodbye to my husband and the end of a corridor, and was wheeled into the operating room by myself. Due to my severe condition, I had to be completely under dur-ing birth, not even my husband could be by my side. I was scared out of my mind, and that is the best words can do. I was left there with a slew of doctors and nurses, and my thoughts, which were not good. I was scared for my little girl and I asked God to please let me meet her. And then I went out. I would later be told by various nurses that if we had waited to come in as planned, my life, and that of Vera's would have been in more then jeopardy; one or both of us may not have been here.
Two days after the c-section, I was wheeled up to the 7th floor NICU and I met my baby girl, my Vera Anne. I remember nurse Whitney lovingly putting 3 pound 8 ounce Vera into my arms and then closing the curtain to give us privacy. I just cried. What a big miracle in such a tiny little body! And even better, she was perfectly healthy, just small. My husband later told me that there was a team of experts waiting in the deliver room for every type of problem Vera was likely to have. They just kept smiling as the doctor was calling out statistics and numbers; Vera was breathing on her own and doing well. She would spend the next month on the 7th floor learning to eat and growing. She was put under the blue lights for the first week to relieve her jaundice, but aside from that we were blessed. The nurses there are truly angels. They made, what at the time seemed unbearable, bearable. They were patient with us beyond belief, and taught us how to feed and handle our baby when we were still scared new parents. They rejoiced with us every ounce she gained, every bottle she finished. They always encouraged me, especially when it came to breastfeeding. They made me "believe in the power of breast milk" to the point that I now carry the button on my purse and Vera's diaper bag. They are truly Heaven's sent.
Vera was released from the hospital the day after Thanksgiving, and she has been loving life ever since! She weighed exactly four pounds when she passed the dreaded car seat test and came home. I remember that day, and crying as we pulled away from the hospital. I had cried as I pulled away many times before, but this time it was tears of joy; my baby girl was coming home. I look back at those pictures and days in the NICU and I smile because without them my little girl would not be as healthy and happy as she is to-day. Vera Anne is now four months old, twelve pounds, and on the charts in every way. It amazes me that she was once the same size as her favorite sock monkey toy. I have continued to breastfeed her, which was in no way my original plan, and she is doing marvelously. Breastfeeding is a commitment, but boy is it worth it! She is hitting milestones left and right; she laughed the other day for a good five minutes, and that sound has forever replaced the sound of the monitors and alarms from her NICU days. We can't wait to see what God has in store for her as she grows and continue to amaze us.
I drive past the hospital every day on my way to work, and I smile at the blessing I have been given . . . . my daughter and the name of mommy.
My first Mother's Day was just awesome. I am beyond blessed to get to be Vera's mom. It still just amazes me how close we came to loosing her, and how much more special that makes her. Of all the jobs I have ever had, or will have, none can even come close to being her mom. It is my greatest blessing, honor, and joy.
This morning I woke up to the most wonderful surprise...Matthew got me a beautiful necklace to remember this day by. I saw it the week before and he went back and surprised me with it. Then we headed out a little early and grabbed a bagel at my favorite spot and then went to church. The service was entirely about moms. Not that I already didn't know it, but it just made me thankful for how amazing my mom was. She raised two girls to be independent, generally awesome women of faith, and she did it as a single mom. I sing the same songs, and snuggle Vera, just like I remember you and grandma doing to me. Thank you mom for making me into the mom I am today. Here is Matthew with a passed out Vera, pooped out from all the kisses and snuggles from mom.
mazing father and husband he is today. When I married him, I knew he would be a good dad, but I had no idea he would be this amazing! He is patient beyond all belief with Vera and myself, helpful, loving, and the list of adjectives could go on and on. I truly believe he learned it all from you. Thanks to the moms in our lives! Here is the shot from behind. Happiness is a snuggle from mom and dad. It was just a perfect first Mother's Day and I could not have asked for anything better.
