30DaysofHope Day 25- Kalea

Last year on Dec 16, 2019 at 1:22pm our precious little girl, Gwen, came into this world. I was 34 weeks and 2 days and had had a totally normal pregnancy until 5 days prior. I went in for my 33 week appt and my doctor did an ultrasound that would send me to a high risk doctor to take a closer look. Apparently my amniotic fluid was low and they wanted to see me back in 5 days and then every Monday until I delivered to make sure things were ok. 5 days later I went in to get my ultrasound which led me to be taken to labor and delivery because my fluid had dropped to 1%. I was given a steroid shot to help with Gwen’s lungs and put under observation. Observation only lasted 2 hours and then I was rushed to the OR for an emergency C section because Gwen’s heart rate didn’t have variability and the doctors were concern. Gwen was rushed to the hospital NICU and after 4 hours they told us that she needed a higher level of care and was being transferred to a level IV NICU.

Gwen was born with her heart hypertensive, enlarged and all of her organs in failure. We found out that she had a tumor on her tail bone that was causing the issues. Gwen underwent 5 surgeries in the NICU. 3 surgeries were related to the tumor. Which was diagnosed as a neuroblastoma. One surgery was an ETV(brain surgery) because she had developed hydrocephalus and a brain bleed. Gwen had 68 blood transfusions while in the NICU. The last surgery before being discharged was to have a gbutton placed. She was discharged at 84 days.

She later returned to the hospital for an emergency brain surgery to have a shunt placed to help drain the fluid in her brain. In May it was also discovered that her tumor came back and she needed 2 rounds of chemotherapy.

Today Gwen is a happy and health 11 month old who is just the sweetest! We are so grateful to all the doctors and nurses who have saved her life multiple times in this past year.