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Open Your Minds #51: Surviving Extreme Prematurity (Joshua's Story, By His Mother, Rebecca Melissa) ~Part One~ by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Rated "G" by the Author.
A little boy born at five months continues to battle the odds. He just had his first birthday, and he is the light of his parents' eyes.
I look at our little boy, Joshua Patrick Isaiah, now, and I look back to the time when he was lying in the NICU, fighting for every ounce of his tiny life, hooked up to a whole myriad of tubes, and I can't help but get tears in my eyes because it is hard to imagine that he was the same little baby in the NICU. He has grown so much, it is unbelievable, and every day, I see more in the way of strides in his development.
Joshua was born at five months gestation when I fell and my water broke; and there was nothing that could be done to stop it from happening. I was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, and a half hour later, little Joshua entered the world, much too soon. When he was born, he weighed in at an incredible 12 ounces; he weighed as much as a full can of soda pop, and he wasn't much bigger than a can of pop, either. He was impossibly tiny, and when he was brought into the world, he was limp and not making a sound; and to see him like this absolutely terrified me. I thought he was dead; but then the resuscitation team started working on him, trying to get him to breathe, and he emitted a weak, feeble cry, like that of a very young kitten; and I started to cry, as I knew that he was alive.
Joshua was immediately intubated and had all sorts of wires and tubes plugged into his little body, and he was immediately rushed to the NICU at Nashville Memorial Hospital, where he began his battle for life. He was certainly the tiniest baby there: he took up but very little space on the bed, and he looked no bigger than a peanut. I was appalled at how tiny he was, and I was especially surprised that he was still alive.
For over four months, little Joshie lay in the NICU, fighting for every ounce of his little life, and despite his rough beginnings, he proved that he was a lot stronger than his outward appearance warrented, and he struggled daily. He still had problems (he would stop breathing, or his vital signs would start acting all weird, sending the alarms into a frenzied wail, and the Code Team rushing to his bedside, where they tried to save his life, or he would turn yellow and would look like a tiny lemon), but he battled through each and every one like a little trouper. He had problems with brain bleeds, or with his lungs collapsing, and also the respirator caused his lungs to become damaged (from being on it for so long); but he was still determined to live, and doctors were amazed at his courageous little spirit.
Then came the happy day when Joshie was at long last well enough to be released from the hospital; but he would continue to be monitored and be on supplimental oxygen for quite some time. Joshua was nearly six months old then, and those first few weeks were the hardest (and scariest) ones of our lives. We were so scared that Joshua would stop breathing (he did, once, and we had to call an ambulance on him for that; thank GOD the paramedics were able to get him back, and several hours later, he was on his way home from the hospital), and we were afraid to leave the house, for fear that, upon our return, we would find him blue and not breathing, or worst of all, dead.
Joshua did make it through those scary few weeks, and he soon settled into his new surroundings. He proved to be a happy, delightful baby, and he hardly ever cried (unless he was dirty or wet or was hungry); when he first smiled and showed signs of recognizing us, his parents, we shed tears of joy and gratitude. We didn't think that such a thing would be possible with our son because of all the odds that were stacked against him, but God brought him through some of the worst trials of his little life, and he spared his life.
Joshua is still smaller than a lot of babies his age (he just had his first birthday a week ago, and a joyous occasion THAT was!), but he is progressing quite well. He still has delays in his motor and physical skills, but each day he is getting better, and the therapies he has been getting every week has helped him tremendously. He still will need to be on oxygen for some time, but he is breathing better now than he ever has, and he is now crawling and making noises. He is trying to talk, but hasn't so far (YET). He smiles and laughs often, and his big, sparkly eyes miss very little. He knows us as his parents, and whenever my husband or myself come into the room, his face is wreathed with a huge smile, and his eyes just shine! He is very spoiled, not just by us, but by both set of grandparents, and his aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is loved by all who meet him, and whenever I show people his pictures from his hospital days, they are absolutely blown away and marvel at his will to live!
There is some sad news in this, though: he is developmentally delayed (not too bad, but there ARE deficits), and he may have some signs pointing to cerebral palsy, but so far this hasn't been proven. Still, the thought of our son being physically disabled IS disconcerting, and we are trying to deal with the possibility. We have our bad days, as well as our good days, but every day that our son lives is another Gift from God, and we thank God for each and every day, every milestone, every breath, every laugh, that our Miracle Child produces, and we can't wait for when he learns to walk and talk on his own!
Re-Release! No longer back-listed. Return to the Olde Ways. The hustle and bustle of modern day life has brought many of us to a quick fix attitude.This book is for those of you who are fed up; have looked at your life and your loved ones and realize
I look at our little boy, Joshua Patrick Isaiah, now, and I look back to the time when he was lying in the NICU, fighting for every ounce of his tiny life, hooked up to a whole myriad of tubes, and I can't help but get tears in my eyes because it is hard to imagine that he was the same little baby in the NICU. He has grown so much, it is unbelievable, and every day, I see more in the way of strides in his development.
