It has been an incredibly long week, but I can finally get this all going so you can all keep updated on what's up with Bryton, Rob, and I. Let's start from the beginning:
On Sunday we found out that I had an incompetent cervix and was admitted to Christiania hospital in Wilmington, DE. I started to have contractions so in addition to a variety of other things, they started me on Mag Sulfate to stop the pre term labor. On Tuesday in the late afternoon, they took me off the Mag and started me on a similar oral medication, Indomethacin. My contractions stopped for a while and they even took me off all of the monitors and started checking on me every few hours. On Thursday morning Rob and his mom Cathy had to leave the hospital to take care of a few things, and at about 6:30 my contractions started again, however we didn't know they were contractions. They left at 7, by 7:45 they hooked me back up to monitor the contractions, and ordered an ultraltrasound to see if anymore of the sac had moved out of the cervix. They determined I was fully dilated by 8:30 and 2 good pushes later, Bryton King Hamilton was born at 9:08 am April 9th, 2009. He came out at a very tiny 1 lb 7 oz and 12 1/4 inches. They immediately intubated him and started to check is vitals and blood work. They noticed a pretty significant loss of blood and that led them to doing an early head ultrasound. The Dr. informed us that he has a Level 4 Intraventricular Hemorrhage. He has the most severe level of bleeding in the brain. The bleeding started on the right side but his affecting both sides. This can cause 4 major long term problems including any degree of mental retardation, cerebral palsy, deafness, or blindness. They can monitor the bleeding and there is a procedure they can do to help with the clotting of blood, but there will be no way to determine the serious long term effects until we start making and missing certain developmental milestones. His other major obstacles so far include maintaining his glucose and sodium levels as well as keeping his body temperature level. Thankfully they are seeing some improvement in his glucose and sodium. One major contributing factor is his incredibly premature skin. Water is able to evaporate right through his skin so they keep a piece of plastic over him that looks a little like saran wrap and they have also been keeping the humidity in his incubator close to that of Florida or Jamaica. They did an EKG today to see why his heart rate is so high and they have decided to do and Echo today which will determine wether or night his will have to have the PDA closed. We should know by tomorrow afternoon if we're going to have to have the surgery. Other than that he is looking good. He has some truly amazing nurses and everyone in the NICU is amazing.
Until Bryton is ready to come home, Rob and I are staying at the Ronald McDonald house in Wilmington. This place is so amazing, I don't know what we would do without it. It will basically cost us nothing and we have our own room with a bathroom, access to laundry facilities, 2 kitchens with 2 refrigerators in each- one for families to store their own food and one of free food that anyone can help themselves too. There are cabinets full of free food and every possible cooking utensil you could ever need. There are several beautiful living spaces, a work out room, a teen room, several computers with internet access and printers. There are so many little things they have provided us, I can't even remember them all. There are even people that come in and volunteer and prepare meals for all the families in the house every night. I have no idea what we would do without this place. It is so nice to be close to Bryton and so many comforts of home. There is milk on tap!!!!
This is our life for now. We are confident that Bryton is going to pull through with flying colors. We have such an amazing support group of friends, family, and staff at the hospital and at the House. He is such a handsome little man and obviously a little fighter. It is a difficult time for all of us and it's a hard truth to accept, but we are really trying to stay positive. Rob and I are practically pre med students and if you do a little research, it will make a world of difference in your perspective. There are still a lot of hurdles for him to overcome, but we really believe everything is going to work out for the best. We realize and totally accept that there is a very good chance that he will have some serious long term problems, but we love our little boy and we want him to have every chance at a happy, fulfilling life. It could be better, but it could be worse, and we are just so grateful that he's doing as well as he is. Thank you all for your love and support and I promise I will keep you all updated with lots of news and pictures. We love you!!!
6 comments:
It was so hard to leave you all there. We miss you already. I dont think I have washed my hands in almost 5 hours!!!! Please let me know what I can do by phone, fax, email... anything I can. Watch the elavator doors. I wish I was there still to drive you too and fro. Stay strong little man Auntie Candace cant wait to see your little eyes. I love you Rock and there are no words to express the pride in my heart for the amazing mother you are.
Yia Yia loves all of you very much, i am so proud of you hang tough, think good thoughts, pray hard, and smile, he is your lil man and he is a fighter just like you Rockstar, and Rob too....Fresno and Ventura are there for you three, we love you....
Hey guys it's Nonnie!!! I am so very proud and amazed by the both of you! I only wish I could be there!!!! You have sooooo many people here supporting and praying for our little Bryton and the two of you! I am so glad you guys made this blog! Please let us know how surgery goes tomarrow we will all be anxiously awaiting the good news! I believe that it is gonna be fine! Please post lots of pics of my "GREAT NEPHEW" He is not Great just because I am getting old, lol he is Great Because he is Bryon King Hamilton! A little bit a part of each of you! The Strongest most loving parents I know! He is strong and he is a fighter! We love you all and anything we can do, we are just a phone call away!
Lots of Prayers and Love,
Nonnie, Chris, and Jimmy XOXOXOX
Hey Rocky, it's Anne and Larry Merritt here from Ojai wishing you all the best. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Byton Bryton hes our man if he can do it anyone can! I am your biggest cheerleader Bryton! Love you very much! Hang in there guys! Getting better with every minute! Lots of prayers!
Love Nonnie
Good Morning! Great news!!! Yeah Bryton! Yeah Mom and Rob! Blow the little man a kiss and don't be afraid about changing the diapers! He wont break I promise! He is like rubber! Love all of you! Nonnie
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