Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
~ Proverbs 3:5
Dear family and friends,
We can not thank you enough for the ongoing outreach of love and support you have showered us with this last week...yes it has been an entire week since our little Loretta was born! It is so reassuring to know we are not alone in this crazy adventure we have taken on to become a family! We could not do it without you!
Miss Loretta took us by surprise last Wednesday arriving nearly 5 weeks early at 4 lbs 15 ounces & 17 1/2 inches. Despite directions from our OB's nurse to wait until the following day for our next appointment; we headed to the ER last Thursday afternoon as we had a feeling something was not quite right. Just a few minutes after arriving at triage it was confirmed that Ashley was leaking amniotic fluid and as result; we were told that we were NOT going home. A C-section was scheduled just an hour later as Retta was positioned breach & was ready to come out!
Soon after hearing her first cry and meeting our little ("petite" as described by the doctor) bundle of joy - it was in the operating room (while under sedation) where Ashley asked over the surgical curtain if Loretta had Down Syndrome. There was a silence in the room & then our OB stated..."she may have some features." Retta was sent to the transition nursery & then transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for further evaluation. In route to recovery we made a swing throughout the NICU (in the hospital bed) where we were able to hold Retta one more time before heading to our room for some much needed sleep. ...Well Ashley went to sleep & Szymon headed back to the NICU where he became well known over the following nights as the milk delivery man and odd hour visitor.
The next morning a neonatologist came up to the room to meet with us and explained that chromosome tests were sent out to confirm the Down Syndrome diagnosis. Retta has several conditions common with Down Syndrome (specifically - Duodenal Atresia and a Complete Atrioventricular Canal defect CAVC). After a few days of struggling to toleratebreast milk bottle feedings, surgery was scheduled to repair the Duodenal Atresia (blockage in the upper small intestine). A PICC line was placed on 10/09/11 and surgery scheduled for morning of 10/10/11. Both sets of grandparents waited with Szymon in the waiting room during the surgery; while Ashley went back to her room (just down the hall) to rest on her left side due to elevated blood pressure. After two LONG hours the surgeon came out to share that the surgery was "wonderful" and that every thing went as well as could be expected. During the surgery a NG tube was able to be placed just past the surgical site to enable Retta to start receiving Ashley's breast milk before completely healing.
We were discharged home that evening with empty arms...it was a tearful ride home.
On Wednesday Retta was started on breast milk tube feeds at 2cc(ml)/hour and seemed to be tolerating them well until 0300 the following morning when she had a huge emesis. Feeds were put on hold and X-rays showed the following morning that the NG tube had been pulled up past the surgical site...by Retta herself! Later that day the surgeon decided to pull out the NG feeding tube all together as there was no way to put it back in place. This only means a longer recovery for Retta's stomach...& so we wait. Retta continues to receive nourishment through her PICC line and we continue to visit daily in eager anticipation of being able to start feeding her by mouth once again. We are told the healing process may take several LONG weeks. We have also been meeting with a practice of pediatric cardiac surgeons who are overseeing Rettas fragile heart condition referred to as an "AV Canal "or "CAVC" (a large hole in center of the heart affecting all four chambers where they would normally be divided). Surgery will hopefully take place between 3 to 6 months of age (when Retta is around 11 lbs). ...And so we patiently await Retta's recovery with lots of prayers. The shock of Retta's diagnosis has started to fade as we just hope for her to pull through each day so we can bring her home. All we have ever hoped for was to become a family; and that we certainly have. We have so much to look forward to and can't wait to take Retta tubing on the Frio River and hiking in the Zakopane Mountains! Retta has grown cute & cuter each day and we love her SO MUCH!
Attached are a few pictures of Miss Lorrretta Mae Waclawiak; we hope you enjoy!
Much Love,
Ashley and Szymon
We can not thank you enough for the ongoing outreach of love and support you have showered us with this last week...yes it has been an entire week since our little Loretta was born! It is so reassuring to know we are not alone in this crazy adventure we have taken on to become a family! We could not do it without you!
Miss Loretta took us by surprise last Wednesday arriving nearly 5 weeks early at 4 lbs 15 ounces & 17 1/2 inches. Despite directions from our OB's nurse to wait until the following day for our next appointment; we headed to the ER last Thursday afternoon as we had a feeling something was not quite right. Just a few minutes after arriving at triage it was confirmed that Ashley was leaking amniotic fluid and as result; we were told that we were NOT going home. A C-section was scheduled just an hour later as Retta was positioned breach & was ready to come out!
Soon after hearing her first cry and meeting our little ("petite" as described by the doctor) bundle of joy - it was in the operating room (while under sedation) where Ashley asked over the surgical curtain if Loretta had Down Syndrome. There was a silence in the room & then our OB stated..."she may have some features." Retta was sent to the transition nursery & then transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for further evaluation. In route to recovery we made a swing throughout the NICU (in the hospital bed) where we were able to hold Retta one more time before heading to our room for some much needed sleep. ...Well Ashley went to sleep & Szymon headed back to the NICU where he became well known over the following nights as the milk delivery man and odd hour visitor.
The next morning a neonatologist came up to the room to meet with us and explained that chromosome tests were sent out to confirm the Down Syndrome diagnosis. Retta has several conditions common with Down Syndrome (specifically - Duodenal Atresia and a Complete Atrioventricular Canal defect CAVC). After a few days of struggling to toleratebreast milk bottle feedings, surgery was scheduled to repair the Duodenal Atresia (blockage in the upper small intestine). A PICC line was placed on 10/09/11 and surgery scheduled for morning of 10/10/11. Both sets of grandparents waited with Szymon in the waiting room during the surgery; while Ashley went back to her room (just down the hall) to rest on her left side due to elevated blood pressure. After two LONG hours the surgeon came out to share that the surgery was "wonderful" and that every thing went as well as could be expected. During the surgery a NG tube was able to be placed just past the surgical site to enable Retta to start receiving Ashley's breast milk before completely healing.
We were discharged home that evening with empty arms...it was a tearful ride home.
On Wednesday Retta was started on breast milk tube feeds at 2cc(ml)/hour and seemed to be tolerating them well until 0300 the following morning when she had a huge emesis. Feeds were put on hold and X-rays showed the following morning that the NG tube had been pulled up past the surgical site...by Retta herself! Later that day the surgeon decided to pull out the NG feeding tube all together as there was no way to put it back in place. This only means a longer recovery for Retta's stomach...& so we wait. Retta continues to receive nourishment through her PICC line and we continue to visit daily in eager anticipation of being able to start feeding her by mouth once again. We are told the healing process may take several LONG weeks. We have also been meeting with a practice of pediatric cardiac surgeons who are overseeing Rettas fragile heart condition referred to as an "AV Canal "or "CAVC" (a large hole in center of the heart affecting all four chambers where they would normally be divided). Surgery will hopefully take place between 3 to 6 months of age (when Retta is around 11 lbs). ...And so we patiently await Retta's recovery with lots of prayers. The shock of Retta's diagnosis has started to fade as we just hope for her to pull through each day so we can bring her home. All we have ever hoped for was to become a family; and that we certainly have. We have so much to look forward to and can't wait to take Retta tubing on the Frio River and hiking in the Zakopane Mountains! Retta has grown cute & cuter each day and we love her SO MUCH!
Attached are a few pictures of Miss Lorrretta Mae Waclawiak; we hope you enjoy!
Much Love,
Ashley and Szymon
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