#30DaysofBrave Story- Katelyn

Kinsley Josephine was born just after midnight on November 27, 2020. I had an easy and healthy pregnancy with no indications that she would come early. My water broke late morning the day before (Thanksgiving day!), but I didn't recognize it as that. After an early dinner with our immediate family, I called my OB and they told me to go to L&D immediately. I didn't even pack a bag because I thought it would be a quick check and we'd be on our way. Come to find out, I was in labor at 29 weeks and 4 days. They began all the meds to stop labor and to mature her body, with the short term goal being to keep her in for 4 days and the long term 4 weeks. We made it about 6 hours.

Kinsley weighed 2 pounds, 9 ounces and was 15 inches long. She was tiny, but so fierce. So much happened in that first week - infection and antibiotics, IVH protocol, blood transfusion, putting in her PICC line, a million heel sticks, weaning off the vent, cpap, and high/low flow to room air, and after 5 days, our first snuggles. She was doing so well for such a tiny thing, so when her one week brain ultrasound came back, it felt like the rug was ripped out from under us. The ultrasound showed that she had a grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage on her left side and a grade 1 on her right. The doctor explained that they would monitor with weekly ultrasounds, but we won't know the full prognosis until she does or does not hit milestones as she ages. We spent a lot of time that day crying, praying, and trying not to Google. The remainder of our NICU stay was relatively uneventful, but was still a rollercoaster ride. More blood transfusions, lots of desats, turning blue, but also growing, wearing clothes, taking a bottle, moving to an open crib. Then after 8 weeks, she finally came home with us.
That's where people think the story ends, but the NICU continues long after you go home. Medically, we continued to have follow-up appointments - the NICU clinic, eye doctor, hearing tests, brain ultrasounds, swallow studies, and more. She received Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, and was seen extra by her pediatrician to follow her growth closely. She continued to need her milk fortified and then receive higher calorie formula until she turned one. Emotionally, I experienced a lot of anxiety and PTSD surrounding her health and physical development.

It took a long time until it felt like the NICU fog had cleared, and somedays it still returns. I remember so many details, yet it seems like such a blur. Kinsley is now 21 months and she has the most fun personality, is hitting all her milestones, and is the biggest blessing. Every day we left the NICU, my husband would tell her to heal her brain. We know we could still see effects of the IVH in the future, but we continue to be in awe of how well she is doing and that God has healed her better than we could have ever imagined."