Samantha Devore's Story

Samantha Dale Devore

Our life changed on 10/17/2003. I was 26 weeks pregnant and had been diagnosed with toxemia or pre-clampsia. I had been on bed rest since 10/10.  On 10/17 I had a Dr's appt. As soon as my Doctor, Dr. Bryan Kurtz - looked at me and checked my blood pressure, he sent me to the hospital. As soon as a bed was available he was sending me to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

At Maury Regional Hospital they started me on Magnesium Sulfate and got me ready to transport to Vanderbilt. By 8:00p.m. that night I was at Vanderbilt on the Maternity floor. I had Doctors coming at me from all directions. They did tests most of the night and into the next day. The next night, Dr. Bruner and his team came in to talk with my husband Dale and me. Due to the toxemia, our baby was approximately the size of a 21-22 week old fetus. Dr. Bruner told me there was not way she would survive. They gave us 3 choices: Deliver immediately. Wait until she died in the womb. wait until I got sicker and then deliver.

Even with those options, they told us the outcome would be the same; she was not big enough to use the incubation tools on. She might live 24 hours but that would be it.

By this time, my eyes were almost swollen shut; my feet and hands did not look like feet and hands.

When he told me that she would not make it, I could not take it. You see 4 years ago, I lost my 10 year old son an accident. I did not think I could bury another child.

Dale and I talked all of that Saturday night and all day Sunday. We are both Christians, so we put our faith in God and said whatever will be, will be. We made the decision to have the c-section on Monday 10/20. Our rationalization was that if she was not going to make it, why should I continue to put my life in jeopardy.

The c-section was performed at 7:00 p.m. on Monday night; Sami Dale came out with a little yell. She weighted 1 lb and 1 oz. She was 12 3/4 inches long.

They took her immediately to Vanderbilt's NICU. Since I was on the magnesium sulfate, I did not get to see her until Wednesday afternoon, but my family kept me up to date. They all talked about what a fighter she was and how good she looked. They put prayer requests out to everyone they knew for her to be alright. I have found out through Samantha Dale Devore that God does answer prayer. She came off of the ventilator on day 8. The first brain ultrasound showed no bleeds. The 30 day ultrasound showed no bleeds. Her only trouble has been reflux and having to have laser surgery on her eyes. It is now day 90. She will be 3 months old tomorrow. She is still in the NICU growing. She is up to 3lbs and 4 oz's today. I am not saying that it has been an easy road, because it hasn't. But God does work miracles. The doctors at Vanderbilt tell me now she just needs to grow. She has had the best care from the NICU nurses. They are God's Angels.

I am still 1 week away from my due date. Sami Dale has to gain 12 more oz's before I can bring her home. I can't wait for that day to get here.

Sharon Devore, Mother