Valance

Braelyn Nesta Valance

February 13th, 2013

6:29 am

1 lb 13 oz

13" long

We welcomed you, our little miracle in the most unexpected way... this is your story!

For the beginning of this story you should know that I don't remember most of it and this is based on what I have been told by your daddy. I will add my few tidbits of things I remember though.

The night of the 12th around 10 pm we went to bed, dad had asked how I was feeling and at that time I was feeling fine and we both went to sleep. At 11:40pm dad was woken up by me making strange sounds and shaking, he thought I was having a night mare and tried to wake me up. I wasn't responding so he turned on the lights and saw that my eyes were rolled back in my head and there was blood on my pillow. At that point he realized something was wrong and after a few minutes I was responsive enough to nod to his questions, but couldn't put together a sentence. He got me out of bed and put pants and his jacket on me and rushed me to the hospital. He had called 911, but by the time an ambulance would have come he had already gotten me to the hospital which was about 10-15 minutes after it all started.

Once we got to the hospital they checked me in and I remember sitting at the entrance in the wheelchair and being confused as to wher I was and what was going on then I blacked out. Up to that point I don't rember anything. They started to run tests to see what was wrong and at that point they figured I had a seizure based on what had happened. Also when I came in my blood pressure was super high- 215/99 or so and the usual level should be 140/90 or lower in a healthy person. They checked on you to make sure everything was ok and at that point put me on Magnesium, which is medicine to help with the high blood pressure. They also gave me a steroid shot in the butt to help develop the your lungs. I woke up in the hospital bed extremely hot and uncomfortable and and asked for a fan then got mad at someone for standing in front of it. I also remember getting that nice shot then blacked out again. They determined that I needed to be sent to Denver to Presbyterian /St Lukes Hospital to be taken care of further. They thought at that point that they could watch me for a few days before having to deliver you. The doctors decided that they were going to flight for life me down there at 2:40 am. Before being loaded on to the stretcher for the helicopter to take me our bishop and good friend Larry Chase gave me a blessing. I woke up and they were asking my name and they put the oil on my head and then I blacked out again. In the midst of all the chaos all the grandparents were called and were making their way to Denver.

      They brought the flight for life crew in and loaded me up on the ironing board they called a stretcher. I remember scooting on to the stretcher and starting to go through the hall and getting in the elveator then blacked out and woke up on the roof I thought. As they had me out on the roof (or so I thought it was the roof- I am now told it was on the ground) it was a bit breezy on my hind end and I asked the cute flight guy to cover it up- at that point he told me I had a cute butt! :) As they were all loaded up he leaned in to ask if I was ok and I let him know I was all good because he was cute and he had nice minty breath! I don't remember much of the flight and couldn't see because I didn't have my contacts or glasses. When we got to the hospital I remember getting in the elevator from the roof and it felt like it dropped and we were falling then I blacked out again.
      There was no room for dad on the helicopter so while they flew me to Denver dad went home and got the dogs ready for the neighbors to watch them and get some clothes for himself thinking we had a few days before you got here. When they got me to Denver they had determined right away that I needed to have a c-section to get you out and prevent another seizure. In the meantime we don't really know what happened- I was blacked out and dad didn't arrive until about 5:45 am. The doctor was waiting for dad to arrive and once he did they told him it was time to get you out. They gave him some scrubs to change into and escorted him to the waiting area.
      The next thing I remember I am in the operating room and the anaesthesiologist had me sitting up and he was trying to give me my epidural. He made a comment about how swollen my back was as he was trying to push in to feel my spine then I blacked out. I was so swollen all over my body that I was told I even had a few chins. After I was laying down they brought dad in and started the surgery. The anaesthesiologist at that point was yelling at dad to get the camera ready cause you were coming. I remember hearing him say that, but not seeing anyone or anything. You weren't coming yet though, it was just all the fluid built up in my stomach. Later the doctor said it was about 2 liters of fluid that was just in my stomach, which the doctor said was the most she had ever seen in anyone. They continued with the surgery and I woke up gagging and nauseous. They were trying to show you to me, but with out glasses or contacts I couldn't see you. Dad had to tell them several times to bring you closer so I could finally see you. All I saw was your tiny face, you were all wrapped up and had a baby hospital hat on. Your face was smaller than the size of my palm. I told dad it was ok to follow you then I blacked out. You are a little fighter and for being so small and early you were only put on a cpap mask for oxygen for the first 24 hours. You didn't have any major issues either which is a miracle considering you were born at 27 weeks. You had 10 teeny tiny fingers and toes and you were just teeny tiny, you were perfect!

During the surgery they determined that my kidney had shut down and was not processing anything. That is why I had so much fluid built up in my body and once they pulled you out it started functioning again. After the surgery was over they put me up in my room to recover and they noticed that my left eye and face was drooping and they thought I was having a stroke. They rushed me for a CT scan and determined everything was fine. I did however have PRES- Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), also known as reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS), is a syndrome characterized by headache, confusion, seizures and visual loss. It may occur due to a number of causes, predominantly malignant hypertension, eclampsia and some medical treatments. On an MRI of the brain, areas of edema (swelling) are seen. The symptoms tend to resolve after a period of time, although visual changes sometimes remain. After that they put me in the ICU to keep a closer eye on me and watch me closer. They also had two drains in my lower stomach to get all the extra fluid out of my body. I don't remember anything from the rest of that day. I did however make a very nice Facebook post, which I don't remember, since they left me with an Ipad while they went to lunch. Dad had a rough time trying to determine where he needed to be, with me in the ICU or you in the NICU.

Day two in the ICU is pretty much a blur for me as well. I don't really remember much except for them trying to get me up out of bed and moving. As I was walking back to the bed my vision went black. It was the scariest feeling I have ever had. I couldn't see anything and thought for sure I was going blind. It took a good 1/2 hour before things started coming back. The other fun thing about the ICU was it was like being in a fish bowl. I was at the T in a hallway and had windows on one wall and the door on the other which the curtains didn't quite cover all the windows. It's true what they say about having a baby- you loose all sense of modesty which is extra true if you add being in ICU as well and have bandages changed quite often. The drains in my belly also were draining more than what the bulbs could handle and were draining out on me. I am told I was not a happy person about being wet and everytime they changed my gown or bedding I was wet once again. They finally decided to tape gauze around the drains and I was told it was quite the mess of tape and gauze. I did have tape residue on me for weeks to follow.

You and I were famous... I had lots of nurses and even the flight nurse come in at some point to check on us and ask how you were doing. I didn't know them, but they sure knew me! It's a very surreal feeling knowing that all the crazy stuff that happened was to me and you! I spent a full week in the hospital and you have a long hospital stay ahead of you.

Your daddy is wrapped around your tiny little finger already! He thinks you like him more because he had a few more days of bonding in before I did. For now I will let him think that because he deserves that and more! It is amazing the changes he has made and the amount of love he shows for you within this short time already. Every time he goes in to see you he sings "you are my sunshine" and my heart just melts.

This was definitely not the "plan" on how you were to come into this world, but we wouldn't change it for anything! WE LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!