The roller-coaster inside NICU

Picture of Saint Joseph's delivery room. Zachary Glen Aden Hoffman, born 11-21-2005, 27 weeks. Zachary was our gift from god. Terry and I had given up hope on ever having children together. After returning from vacation in Florida, a vacation which found me to be ill, I purchased an at home pregnancy test. To our amazement it was positive !!!!!!!! Terry and I were so EXCITED. I was diagnosed with Diabetes prior to becoming pregnant. After meeting with Dr. Bryant, Terry and I were told I would have to have insulin shots. YUCK, I dispise needles, but if it was better for our baby I would not hesitate to be poked. Terry helped and gave me my shots at night. Dr, Bryant followed my progress with numerous tests, one included an ultra-Sound, which showed a picture of what the doctor told us was Our Little Girl. All was going pretty good until November 17, 2005. I felt cramps for three days and we thought it was best to go into the hospital to have it checked out. After discovering I had a thinning cervix, I was admitted for observation. Due to the fact I was 41, had diabetes and UTI, I was given two steroid injections to help the babies' under developed lungs. On November 20th, 2005 I attempted to utilize the bathroom, then it happened !!! My water broke. Looking back now the next day appears to be a blurry. The vision I will never forget is the look in Terrys' eyes during my C-Section. Moments after the baby was born Dr. Ivacko came in and knelt beside Terry and I, she said we had a problem, Our little girl was in fact a little boy!!!!!!! Our hearts sank at the moment she said we had a problem, but the news was delightful. Zachary Glen Aden Hoffman, born November 21, 2005 at 2LBS, 6 OUNCES 27 weeks. Zachary did not need a ventilator at birth, he started out breathing on his own. The only assistance he needed came from a nasal canula, this assisted his breathing with a constant flow of air. It was discoved that Zach needed additional assistance later on, so he was then put on CPAP, another type of breathing assistance device. After a week of numerous Apnea events, the doctors thought it would be wise to give Zach a break, and he was introduced to the Ventilator. Seeing your child on a ventilator, breathing for them, is one of the most hopeless feelings to have, (especially when your child cannot make any noises due to the tube in his throat). We were told if they did not give him the rest he needed he may have become stressed out and not have been able to breath at all. Zach did not like the Vent, it was only after a week to the day that he pulled it out and we once again went to CPAP. It was a slow transition from CPAP to Nasul canula. The Apnea monitor has a way of draining the life out of parents. Many alarms and weeks later Zach was weaned from the CPAP and was only on nasul canula. All premature babies have a vision exam, due to the fact it is common to have a condition known as Retinapothy of Prematurity Aka ROP. This is a condition in which the Blood vessels stop growing towards the Retina and start growing abnormally. In order to correct this, if the condition is advanced, Laser Surgery must be performed. Well to our disappoinment when all seemed to be going good, Zach was diagnosed with ROP. The surgery itself was concerning, however even more then that, we were facing the fact of Zach being placed back on the Ventilator. It felt as though someone just dropped a bomb on us. FACT: Retinopathy of PrematurityThe eyes of premature infants are especially vulnerable to injury after birth. A serious complication is called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which is abnormal growth of the blood vessels in an infant's eye. About 7% of babies weighing 1,250 grams or less at birth develop ROP, and the resulting damage may range from mild (the need for glasses) to severe (blindness). The cause of ROP in premature infants is unknown. Although it was previously thought that too much oxygen was the primary problem, further research has shown that oxygen levels (either too low or too high) play only a contributing factor in the development of ROP. Premature babies receive eye exams in the NICU to check for ROP The Ventilator is needed for this surgery because the medications given paralyze you so you cannot move. After the hour surgery, Dr Dass came to inform us Zach did well, however we will be following up with his office and Dr. Tish ( an optmoligist) for many months. Prior to the surgery we were told Zach will wean off the ventilator within two hours, give or take a few. Terry and I went home that night and anticipated a phone call that night telling us he was taken off the vent, but that call never came. We looked forward to seeing Zach the next day breathing on his own. Once again the roller coaster ride continues. That next day numerous nurses watched over our baby as he remained on the ventilator. I watched him turn Blue and stop breathing in my arms several times. The sick feeling that over comes a parent in this situation is indescribable. Thank the lord Zach took off breathing again. He needed extra oxygen and stimulation numerous times. I can not say enough about the NICU at St. Joseph's in Ann Arbor. I have spent time at the NICU in UOM in Ann Arbor with my oldest son. You always hear good things about UOM'S NICU, however in my experience St. Joseph is by far the best !!!!! We really are so grateful to all the wonderful doctor's and nurse's. If god planned to have angels on earth I found them there. Well Zach is home now, prior to his discharge he was given a sleep study to evaluate his apnea during a 12 hour period. This is given to support the decision of the need for oxygen at home. Zach is the First baby to pass the sleep study, he did not need to go home on oxygen!!!!!!!! At this time Zach is on an apnea monitor at home and a feeding tube. He tends to tire out towards the end of his 2 ounce feedings so we feed what's left in the bottle through a tube which runs into his stomach via his nose. Zach is now 7 lbs 12 ounces. We feel truly blessed that he has come to us. We still don't know what hurdles we may have in the future, but we know that all the love we have as a family and with the strength we have obtained through this we will be able to make it through anything.

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