Samuel's Story

I was a week over-due when I had an ultrasound to make sure everything was alright, when they told me the baby was breech and had a problem and sent me to my doctor's office. My husband and I were stunned but thought surely it wasn't that bad, the baby had been so active and I had felt so good throughout the whole pregnancy and all my appointments had been normal. Then our doctor told us there was a lot of fluid on the brain and we needed to go to the University Hospital to have a more high-tech ultrasound done. We prayed all the way there that it was a mistake and he would be just fine. We had to wait until the next morning to have the ultrasound and when the baby came up on the screen, the nurse doing the ultrasound started crying. We knew then it was bad, in fact worse than they had originally thought. They sent us to a room to wait for the doctor to hear the news we dreaded. I got a terrible nose bleed and thought my chest would explode from the pain I felt. At that point ,they thought he was severe hydrocephalus and thought his head would be huge, but said they could manipulate him outside the womb (to turn him from the breech position) so I could have him vaginally and that his head would probably get stuck and he would die, but this was possibly the better option, to give us a "way out" ,I guess. We said no, we want a c-section to which he said, "well you know that is surgery and you'll have a scar!" as if I cared at this point!! !We said do it and give him every chance we can.

He was born  beautiful! And his head was not huge at all! After crying at first he stopped as soon as they put him on my shoulder and he heard my voice! Then they whisked him away and I didn't see him for a few hours. When I did, he nursed great and of course they said "well, sucking is a "primitive" instinct, he will never walk, talk, sit up or even know you, IF he even lives." They said we would probably lose him at any time. We stayed at the hospital for 3 weeks and brought him home, to die we thought, on a Friday afternoon. We just wanted 1 night as a family at home before we lost him. His body temperature was so low when we took him out of the incubator and his heart rate would plummet as well. They said they weren't pushing us to leave, but we knew we just needed to put it in God's hands and He would take care of us all. My family wasn't real supportive of us taking him home at first, but we knew we needed to take that leap of faith. We were connected with Hospice ,who came out to the house regularly and they were wonderful. I don't think we'd have made it those first few months without them
and the help of a special doctor we met at the hospital who even came out to our home 3 times! We brought him home on oxygen, but after 10 days he just took off and started thriving on his own. We did have one scare at about 2 months where he had an allergic reaction to a medication from a different pharmacy and we almost lost him. He ended up in the hospital for 3 days and had to re-learn how to suck, which he did, even though they said he probably wouldn't! Other than that, and a few ear and throat infections, he's been quite healthy. He has big, beautiful eyes and the prettiest auburn hair and is really very striking, at least Mom thinks so! We don't think he can see, but we know he hears very well and definitely knows when Mom, Dad and brother are around. He coos a lot and kind of squeaks once in
awhile and responds with those big eyes searching around and an "OHHH" sound when we talk to him. And Mom's kisses on his ears or his big brother's laughter are almost sure to get a big smile!!

We take him to physical and occupational therapy twice a week and follow up with that at home as well. I take him everywhere I go so far and he seems to love the stimulation! He is a very happy and content little guy and we couldn't love him any more! He has taught us so much about life and love! He has only increased our faith in God and in each other. We are stronger as a couple than ever before because of our journey with him and we are so grateful for each and every day that we are blessed to have with both our wonderful boys!

God bless you all! Samuel and family