(As told by Armand, Jr. by his mother. Get it?)
This is a picture of me at two days old. As you can see I was gearing up to start fussing before this photo was taken.
Wow! I don't even know where to begin. As you already know I was a premature baby, born 11 weeks early. My actual due date was December 16, 2002. I guess that I was anxious to see Mom and Dad! My mother was put on bed rest with me for a little over 6 weeks due to an incompetent cervix. This was discovered after her cervix had dilated 3 centimeters at 23 1/2 weeks. She had to have a cerclage put into place to close her cervix and to prevent me from coming too soon. However, soon after the cerclage was put into place her water bag broke (a condition known as PROM - premature rupture of the membranes). Thus, I was left without any amniotic fluid to "swim' in. My mother and other family members were concerned about my survival at this point, but the doctor's reassured them that if I was able to stay in the womb until 28 weeks I had a 90% chance of surviving. While on bed rest my mother told me everyday that there were lots and lots of folks who were praying for me out there in the world. I didn't know who all these people were at the time but, they sure helped Mommy and I get through bed rest and eventually get me to where I am today.
Well, today I
am a full-
term baby but, I am still hospitalized at Children's Hospital in Oakland, CA.
Sure enough I made it to 28 weeks (but just barely) and I was born on September
30, 2002 at 2:58 p.m. So, I was a 29 weeker. Like I said I barely made it passed
28 weeks. I weighed 2 1/2 lbs. but, I was a "ton of
love" to my parents!
Everything was fine for my first twelve days of life. I graduated from being oxygen dependent to breathing on my own within 3 days. Soon after I was on my way to being gavage fed (through a tube which was inserted into my nose and went to my stomach) breast milk, taking in a whopping 22 cc's every four hours. Well on the twelfth day I fell very ill and I was transported from Alta Bates Medical Center to Children's Hospital in Oakland, CA. I had a very serious bowel disorder called NEC (Necrotizing Enterocolitis) in which a portion of the bowel wall is damaged or dies. I had to have exploratory surgery and from what the surgeons said I had some serious inflammation going on with my intestines. My intestines where so inflamed that the surgeons thought it would be best to let them heal. So, part of my intestines where brought to the surface of my abdomen to allow the rest of them to heal. This is known as a stoma or ileostomy. I have a changeable plastic bag that all my #2's have to go in. When I get bigger my intestines will be reattached and I can do #1 and #2 in my diaper!
So what's worse than having a surgery during the first twelve days of life? Having a second surgery. Yep, exactly seven days after having my first surgery I had surgery on my heart for a condition known as Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). This is a common condition among premature babies and I basically had a small hole in my heart that needed to be closed up. That surgery went well but I was still trying to recover from the NEC. I was on a ventilator for quite some time and I must say that God certainly can work some miracles. I had lots of visits from family and friends. I am so grateful that my parents had a lot of support from everyone (family, friends, the doctors, nurses, especially my Primary Nurses Renda and Eleanor) and that they all had faith that I would make it. Well, I eventually did start improving. Each week I made progress and I eventually got off the ventilator and the antibiotics that I was taking for my infection. However, being a preemie in the NICU is no merry-go-round, it's more like a roller coaster. So after being taken off the ventilator I went back on the ventilator, as the doctors soon discovered that I have BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia). This is a lung disease that develops from being on the ventilator too long. Eventually I got off the ventilator again and I've been receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula ever since.
Today, I am 8 lbs., 2 oz. and counting! I am still at Children's Hospital awaiting my surgery to reconnect my intestines. Some of the preemie issues that I am having now are minor compared to what I've been through. As of this writing, I am continuously gavage feed through an NG tube but, I also get to nipple every three hours. Can't forget how to suck, swallow, and breathe!. Between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day I've battled a yeast and a urinary tract infection. What a way to ring in 2003! Otherwise I am turning into a normal healthy baby boy... for instance I am a little bit more fussy now days. My mom just thinks that I am just being spoiled rotten, but she continues to pick me up when I cry - ha ha! My mother always tells me how blessed I am and I'm sure one day I will truly understand and appreciate this. But, I get the sense from all of the love and support that I get from family, friends, doctors, and the nurses that I must be something very SPECIAL!
Well thanks for reading my story! There is so much more that I have to tell in the coming months but, I'll let Mom handle this department. Please take a look at my Update page to keep up with my continued progress. My website will continue to expand and grow just like I am so please continue to check back periodically. Thanks for visiting my website as I hope that I've offered encouragement to parents and babies like me who need it!
Peace, Love, and Hugs,
Scooter Booter
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