After a day or so in the NICU Hayden wasn't showing marked signs of improvement, or as much as the she should be if her breathing issues were caused by immaturity of her lungs, fluid or infection. They decided to run some other tests to figure out the cause of the problem. An echocardiogram, or an ultrasound of her heart, was performed on Sunday afternoon and after a pediatric cardiologist reviewed the scans we were told she had a PDA of her heart. This means the valve that routes blood correctly while in the womb didn't close at birth as it should have causing symptoms similar to congestive heart failure such as rapid breathing and fluid overload which would explain Hayden's issues. Jeff and I immediately started praying for her and reaching out to all the prayer warriors we know. By divine appointment the neonatalogist, Dr. Owens, who was taking care of Hayden, attended a dinner with top neonatalogists from around the country the night after Hayden was diagnosed with the PDA. He was able to discuss her case with several other doctors who were in agreement that he needed to try ibuprofen to close the ductus. He consulted with the cardiologist and plans were made to start IV ibuprofen and do a repeat echo after the last dose. Five LONG days later the repeat echo showed no PDA! Hallelujah! We know that God healed our baby girl and He gets all the glory. It was a very hard week for us, especially having to leave her at the hospital after I was discharged but God gave us comfort and strength to make it through the week.
(6/12) Hooked up to all the machines and monitors. She was not happy.
(6/13) Finally off cpap and on nasal cannula so we can hold her!
(6/14)But then she got jaundice and had to stay under the billi-lights. However, this is one of my favorite pictures of here that first week, even with the mask on.
(6/15) This was the hardest day because we had to leave the hospital without her. But when we came back for visiting hours she was doing so well we got to hold her and give her a real bottle!
(6/17) My big girl is getting so strong she can hold her own bottle!
(6/19) NO OXYGEN! All we need is one more day of medicine and we can go HOME!
(6/20) Happy Father's Day!
(6/21) On our way home! PRAISE THE LORD!
What an AWESOME testimony!!!! God is SO GOOD!! Hope to see y'all again soon!!
ReplyDeleteI know Ive said this before and quite a few times....but MAN she is PRETTY!!!! :) So now you need to have 2 more beautiful gals for all my boys ;)
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