Zachary's Story

Zachary Dale Walker

Things started out normal when I became pregnant with Zackary. I found out on November 4, 2002 that I was expecting. My husband and I were delighted, as we had been trying to have a baby for years.

Things continued to go normally for about the first 2 1/2 months, and then it all starting going wrong. At 14 1/2 weeks I started bleeding, so I rushed right in to the OB's office where they did an ultrasound to check the baby...they said that I had over-extended myself, the baby was fine, I just needed to take it easy (which I did). At 18 weeks, I started bleeding again...I rushed back into the OB's office, and again they did another ultrasound, and again I was told that the baby was fine, and that I needed to take it easy (which I had been).

Things started looking up...I had an ultrasound at 20 weeks, and they told me everything was fine...I was having a boy, and he was growing normally, and nothing was wrong. I was so excited.

Then my world was turned upside down when my husband was called off of Reserve Status, and back to Active Duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom (AKA Enduring Freedom). I had never been away from him in 6 years, and I needed him now more than ever...he was going to miss everything.  I was scared for him, scared for me, and scared for our baby.

I pulled myself together, and decided that I had to be strong...for my baby.

Well things were going fairly okay, until March 27, 2003.  I was 24 3/7 weeks along, and my water broke. I was rushed to the hospital, and then transferred to another hospital that was more equipped to handle a situation such as mine, as chances were I would be delivering soon.

They put me on Mag Sulfate to try and stop my labor, and gave me steroid injections to help mature the baby's lungs quicker. I stayed in labor for 4 1/2 days.

After the second day of labor, they slowed enough that I was moved to the maternity floor.  That was so hard for me, watching other mothers with their new healthy babies, and getting ready to go home.

On March 31, 2003 at around 1:00pm, my stomach began to ache in a way that I have never felt before.  I called for the nurse, they came in, listened for the baby's heartbeat, and realized that it was extremely low. The immediately hooked me back to monitors (as they had been only hooking me up every other hour to monitor the baby).  The touched my stomach, and I almost fainted it hurt so bad.  They said that infection had set in from lack of amniotic fluid, and that I had to be delivered STAT. They called the OB, the delivery room, and rushed me downstairs for an emergency C-Section.

At 1:26pm on March 31, 2003 my son, Zackary Dale was born.  He weighed 1 pound, 12.2 ounces and was 13 3/4 inches long. He was whisked away immediately to spend the next 3 months in the NICU.

There were many ups and downs in the next 3 months.  We overcame them all, and brought our beautiful baby boy home on June 24, 2003.  He weighed a little over 8 pounds, 4.7 ounces, and was 19 inches long.  He came home on oxygen and a heart/apnea monitor, and many medications....but he was well enough to come home.

Zackary is now 5 months old (chronological age), 7 weeks (adjusted age)...and doing great!

When people tell you that something isn't possible, or miracles don't happen...look at all the babies and children listed on this webpage, and renew your faith in God, and in Miracles!

Heather Walker, Mother