Home » Pick Your Crowd » Moms of Special Needs Children » My story: Severe birth asphyxia

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Name: ejaydee [ Original Post ] My name is Wendee and I'm 18 years old. I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Ethan Jordan on April 25, 2007 through an emergency c-section. The reason for the c-section was that the placenta disconnected from the uterus cutting off all circulation of oxygen and nutrients to the baby. I was feeling pain the night before I went to the hospital, but being that this was my first pregnancy, I thought I was constipated. When I got to the hospital, the baby's heartrate was in the low 60s. Everything happened so fast. I couldn't even sign the consent forms for the surgery! I was put to sleep during the surgery and I woke up to my sister by my side and a doctor at the foot of my bed. "Your baby was without oxygen for a long period of time and in situations like these, there's high risk that your baby won't make it." My heart broke into a million pieces. I didn't know what to think or how to react. Ethan was then transferred to another hospital because he required level 3 care. I got to see him for a mere 30 seconds before they took him away. He spent 5 weeks in the NICU suffering from brain damage. He spent 4 days on a ventilator, 3/5 of those weeks on CPAP or a nasal canula. Every week he was in there, we had parent meetings with the doctors and everytime they would urge or "highly encourage" us to re-direct care. Meaning not prolonging our baby's life any longer and let him pass peacefully. They said that he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life, not be able to breathe on his own, eat nor move on his own. A week before he was discharged, Ethan went into surgery to have a G-tube placed. It's been 5 weeks since he's been home and I'm glad to say that he is now completely feeding on his own by breast and bottle. The reason why I started this topic is I would like to know if there are any other moms out there that have been in a similiar situation that we are in now and how their child turned out. We are taking it one day at a time and I have faith that he'll be okay because Ethan has and is continuing to prove the doctors wrong. But I would just like to know more. ↓

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Name: sellis | Date: Jul 6th, 2007 6:58 PM

Bless you and your child's heart. I have a different situation with my son, but my thoughts and prayers go out to you both. ↑

Name: anjelsin | Date: Jul 24th, 2007 12:56 PM

Hi My daughter was born very similar to your son but she was 2lb 2 oz and very premature. She is diagnosised with PVL due to lack of oxygen. She is 1 year and doing well but far behind. they say that she is going to have CP (cerebral palsy) She has vision issues also. I would recoment to see what kind of early intervention your county has... Ours is called birth to three. She recieves physical therapy occupational therapy and a teacher. Get involved wth therapys asap. The docs say only time will tell Has your son had a brain scan. I would also recomend that. Be as proactive as possible. ↑

Name: VB | Date: Jul 24th, 2007 6:37 PM

My situation is different too, but I have to say, this child will teach you more than you can possibly know right now. He will amaze you and make you stop to smell the roses, something we've all learned to do...my children are both deaf (hear w/cochlear implants) and I can cry at the drop of the hat when my kids hear something knew for the first time. Little things become so exciting since most of us have taken those little things for granted all these years. Good luck to you guys and you get yourself some help like anjelsin above said...early intervention will tell you what you need to be doing and it's not your age, I was 26 when I had my first kid, I thought I knew what to do but they come out different than you had planned, even prepared moms need help. ↑

Name: Kristen McClellan | Date: Sep 13th, 2007 3:16 PM

Hi, I'm a Junior majoring in special education and I just wanted to let you know that my thoughts go out to you and your family. I also just wanted to encourage you by letting you know that although your son's brain damage is very tough on you and your family, he is seen as a blessing!! Just know that people like myself are in this field to be able to help families such as yours. It's positive, caring parents like you that make us want to learn so much more and become the best educators for children with disabilities that we can become. Keep hanging in there!!! God bless. -Kristen ↑