Casandra's Story

After meeting my husband at a very young age we both wanted a child desperately. I had miscarried before and my husband had lost his premature infant twins a couple of years earlier. We both loved children and couldn't wait to start our own family. Throughout the first 7 years of our relationship nothing happened even after seeing several doctors insisted nothing was wrong.

I have to admit I had pretty much given up hope until one day I became very ill. I thought I had a serious case of the flu but my mother-in-law insisted on me buying a pregnancy test. I was very reluctant because we had bought several over the year's and it was always a disappointment. Well guess what? I was expecting. Other than severe morning sickness, I had a totally healthy pregnancy up until the end and my check-ups were always perfect.

At 6 months, I knew something was wrong. I could just tell. I called my mid-wife who assured me that everything was alright and to come into her office first thing in the morning. Almost as soon as I got there, I was down with needles, IV's, and tubes everywhere. I was told that I was in labor and dilated to 4 cm. They immediately rushed me to a hospital equipped for the situation and started me on mag to slow the contraction's. I was in labor from the 18th-22nd in an upside down position not allowed to get up or lay on my back. Only side to side. My body hurt terribly. I was diagnosed with a premature cervix and was scheduled for an emergency cerclog surgery. But prior to that I started complaining of contractions again. I had a new nurse who kept telling me it was gas pains and I was fine. Don't ever listen to anyone else when you are in that situation. It's your body and you know if something is wrong. 4 hour's later at 2am the new nurse came in I told her what was going on, she checked me, I was in full blown labor and she was coming feet first. They immediately called for the doctor. Originally they had planned on taking her c-section if they had to take her for safety for her but it was to late for that or medication. She was coming right then.

My daughter was born after 4 day's of labor on Oct 2002 at 24 week's gestation. She weighed 1 lb 10 ozs and was 12 3/4 inches long and was actually considered big for her age. Hard to imagine. Until I had her I never knew such a thing was possible. They immediately took her after being born at 2:50am and I didn't get to see her until close to 7am. She was hooked to everything possible. I thought the worst. I had never been so scared in all my life. At 2 day's old she had a pulmonary hemorrhage which only about 45% full term babies make it through. At 2 week's old she had a IVH. Luckily her IVH corrected itself at a grade 3 before the brain actually bled but did cause PVL where she is missing a small portion of her brain. Throughout her stay her lung's collapsed 3 times, she had pneumonia 4 times, and a serious bone infection which required a six week treatment. She has PVL,ROP,BPD and 3 surgeries during her stay.  She had laser surgery for her eye's and now wears glasses and a button tube put in her belly for feeding because she wouldn't take a bottle. She was vent dependant for the first 6 1/2 week's.

I remember sitting by her bedside for hour's praying and asking God to be with my sweet angel. My husband was always the positive one throughout the ordeal constantly telling me everything was going to be fine. And it was. After spending 104 day's in the NICU my precious Casandra, who we call Casey, for short came home. She came home on oxygen and an apnea alarm. A month after being home her button tube was removed but has recently been put back in for an unknown amount of time. After 2 1/2 month's we said bye bye to the oxygen. Now she is a normal 10 1/2 month old baby (corrective age 6 1/2 months). Other than being small Casey is doing wonderfully.

For all of you who are in a similar situation, may God watch over your sweet little angel's. Remember... Anything is Possible!

Nicole Trout, Mother