#30DaysofBrave Story- Kim

"We got pregnant in November 2020 and found out that the due date was my four year old daughter’s birthday, July 22nd! This pregnancy, my fourth (after experiencing a miscarriage in early September), was unlike any of my previous two pregnancies.

I was teaching first grade online during a global pandemic - removed from all the normalcy of my job including my teammates and my own classroom, teaching from home. My mom was sick - diagnosed with ovarian cancer, feeling weak and tired all the time, she had a chemo treatment, then was diagnosed with pneumonia, and ultimately passed away in March 2021. My pregnancy symptoms were getting to be pretty uncomfortable - yet all was said to be “normal.”

Fast forward to June, the OB had given us the ok to go on vacation the first week of the month. I was 33 weeks pregnant at the time and we thought the perfect thing to do would be to spend some time together with just us 4. It was a wonderful trip and we made wonderful memories but my swelling was getting worse and I got very carsick on the way home. That was the first red flag.

Five days later we celebrated my husband’s birthday and I had some blurry vision but chalked it up to being in the sun all day, swimming, and new glasses. Second red flag. Three days later we celebrated Father’s Day at the zoo, the same thing happened with my blurry vision and I noticed the compression socks were not helping my feet anymore. Third red flag. Two days later I was so sick, I was up all night and knew something wasn’t right. On the morning of June 23rd, I was having contractions. I told my husband that we needed to go to the hospital and not my 35 week appointment, which was scheduled that afternoon.

I don’t exactly remember the timeline for when we arrived at the hospital to when our NICU warrior was born… But I know it wasn’t long. When we arrived, they put me on monitors and quickly realized that my blood pressure was out of control. This had never been an issue before so everyone was very alarmed. When the doctor came in he told us that they were going to prep me for an emergency c section. They kept talking to me about pre-eclampsia and mentioned that baby’s heart rate was decelerating. I was scared and worried for both of us and sad because this wasn’t the kind of delivery I wanted.

From there, it’s all kind of a blur. We were told that, depending on my levels, my husband may or may not have been allowed to come back into the operating room. They also said they may or may not have to put me under.. it all depended on my blood work. Luckily things seemed ok and they let him back so he could be with me but once our baby came out and didn’t cry, I knew something was wrong. They had mentioned, prior to going into the OR, that there would be a team in there specifically for him because he was going to be premature.

He was born on June 23rd at 3:42pm - our sweet boy, weighing 5 pounds, 8 ounces and 17.5 inches long. They worked with him for what felt like an eternity before Mike could even see him and I only got to see him briefly before he was whisked away to the nursery. They had already told us that he would need to go to Rainbows to be in the NICU. The next time I saw him, he was all loaded up and ready for transport to go downtown. My husband left to go be with our babe.

Thankfully, my sisters both came up to be with me so I wouldn’t be alone while waiting 24+ hours to be transferred downtown. Those hours were long, uncomfortable, and groggy thanks to the magnesium drip (barf!). After what felt like forever, they told me that I had a bed available at MacHouse and that I would be transferred as soon as an ambulance arrived. Lucky for me, a friend of mine was working in the transport ambulance which helped calm my nerves and worries! I’m still so grateful for the company on the ride.

Once we arrived downtown, I got up to my room to check in as a patient and the OB who was working the floor came to check in and we experienced a weird “full circle” moment. Just 3 months prior, this same doctor had called my sisters and I up to Seidman Cancer Center in the middle of the night because my mom’s health had taken a turn for the worse. She was the one who told us the worst news of our lives. Now, she was greeting us to discuss my care.. I think we all, including the doctor, shed a tear for a minute as we realized the odds of our paths crossing again were actually pretty slim.

June 24, 2021, at 10:37pm was when I finally got to meet and hold my sweet Bennett for the first time. Our time in the NICU was relatively short, about a week.. but it felt so much longer, especially being away from big sissy and big brother. Bennett was hooked up to so many different monitors and cords..and it was such a rollercoaster of emotions as we navigated our way through the unknown. He and I both experienced a couple setbacks but eventually we were told that we could come home! On June 29th, we broke outta the hospital and came home to start life as our family of FIVE.

After we got home and had a chance to settle in.. I wasn’t sure if I was even allowed be upset about our delivery story. I felt so sad, yet guilty.. but relieved and grateful about how things had played out until a good friend of mine (with her own NICU story) reminded me that this story, his birth, the loss of what we expected or thought this delivery should look like.. it’s ours. She helped me realize that I shouldn’t compare it to anyone else’s. I’m so grateful for her love and support during that time and it’s one of the reasons why I truly believe that NICU Awareness and education is so important!

Bennett means little blessed one. Kellie means warrior. He sure is a little blessing and a fighter! I’ll forever be grateful to the team of doctors, nurses, therapists, and specialists who cared for Bennett and I that first week. Bennett, you are loved beyond measure. 🌈