We found out we were pregnant with
our second child around the end of January. We were very excited for this news because we
had known we wanted to continue our family and provide a sibling for Jason to
play with and grow up with. We didn’t
expect the journey to be such a learning experience and miracle along the
way. We believe that God created Jordan
out of love and caring and with every intention to lead a long healthy
life. I had many of the inconveniences
of pregnancy including morning sickness, urinary tract infections, the flu,
etc. I thought pregnancy complaints were
the height of my problems.
When I was pregnant with Jason, I
had preeclampsia at the end of my pregnancy and was induced at 38 weeks for his
birth. My pregnancy with Jordan started
to show higher blood pressure levels early on in the pregnancy at 18
weeks. The doctors and I knew that preeclampsia
was a risk factor for me so we had been looking out for the signs and
symptoms. My appointments had gotten
closer together and I was doing lab work every month to check for protein. My blood pressure continued to rise.
On June 7, 2012 I had a regular
scheduled appointment. My blood
pressures had been high all week so I was expecting the clinic to see the same
issue that I saw at home. My blood
pressure which is normally 120/70 had been fluctuating up to levels of 184/122. At my appointment, I was sent down to labor
and delivery to monitor my pressure, do some lab testing, and figure out the
exact cause of the blood pressures. I
had Jason with me for my appointment and he was such a good boy while mommy was
being monitored. The doctors and I had
expected the results to be that I would need to go on a blood pressure
medication for the remainder of the pregnancy to control the increase. The lab results did not tell us what we were
expecting.
We didn’t expect the results to be
so severe. I had high levels of protein
in my labs and very low platelet levels.
The doctor told me that I definitely had preeclampsia and more than
likely, it was severe enough to be HELLP Syndrome. The only cure for HELLP syndrome is
delivery. Often times, those patients
with HELLP Syndrome can control the symptoms for a time and are able to safely
deliver later on. My lab results were so
severe that this would not be an option for me.
I was told that I needed to deliver or risk putting my life in danger.
I was lying in the hospital bed in Misawa
thinking that I would be transferred to wait out the dangers with medication
until it was safe to deliver. I was 23
weeks gestation and knew that baby Jordan would have very little chances if
delivered now. I was told that I would
be transferred to Aomori Prefecture hospital about an hour and a half from base
because this is the only hospital that would accept my severe transfer at such
an early stage in the pregnancy. Not
knowing how to proceed, Jacob called in for help from our church Calvary
Baptist and we had several families step up immediately to take over with
Jason, making sure we got what we needed ready, and to begin praying.
I was transferred by ambulance
while under magnesium medication to lower my blood pressure. When we arrived at Aomori hospital, several
tests were performed and we started discussing options with the Japanese
doctors and translators. The doctors had
at first decided that 23 weeks gestation was too early and were going to
attempt to control the HELLP syndrome with medication for as long as possible. They decided to repeat my labs the next
morning and decide how to proceed from there.
12 hours later when my lab results came back they had become
significantly worse and waiting would not be an option. We were told that my own life was the first
priority in this situation but they would be doing all they could in the
background to get ready for Jordan.
We knew that 23 weeks gestation
came with so many risks and were told of these risks multiple times. Even based on the low chances, we wanted to
give Jordan a fighting chance and we told them we wanted them to do everything
possible to save the baby. Several
doctors worked together to prepare my C-section to give both Jordan and I the
best chances. I was scheduled to have a C-section
within the same day. We went in for
surgery on June 8th at 12:15 and baby Jordan was born approximately
15 minutes later at 12:31 weighing less than a pound (12.3 ounces). He was immediately received and taken care of
by the infant doctors at the hospital.
The C-section was quite an
experience for me and not something I want to repeat. I was put out by general anesthesia and was
told that I would be put completely out, and then I would have a tube to assist
with breathing that would be taken out after my consciousness had
returned. As I was being put under, I
took two deep breaths and then felt as if I was drowning. I didn’t feel like I was going to sleep but
rather felt as if my air was completely cut off and I could not draw
breath. As I started to gain
consciousness, I could feel the tube that was helping me breathe but I could
not control my own breathing. I felt
like I was awake and should be controlling my body but could not. I kept asking God to help me get through this
trial.
Most of that day was a blur as I
was still working through the anesthesia.
I was shown a picture of baby Jordan and was told that Jacob was able to
see him and touch his hand and that the doctors had started working on him to
stabilize and do their best for his health.
I was not able to meet Jordan until the following day. I got to meet my precious angel for the first
time on June 9th, 2012. I got
to see his tiny body in person and stroke his itty bitty fingers. I will never forget this moment. I felt so blessed that Jordan had fought long
enough to meet me. Right after, Jacob
and I met with the translators and doctors to discuss his condition.
Jacob was able to attend a meeting
right after surgery to determine that Jordan had PDA or Patent Ductus Arteriosus. This is a condition that is common for
premature babies. The heart has
difficulty separating the oxygenated blood from the non-oxygenated blood. In the womb, the infant is connected to the
mother through a duct that normally closes right after birth. Because this duct did not close, the blood
flow is then mixed causing increasing strain on the heart and lungs. Besides this issue, he also had poor lung and
vascular conditions due to prematurity and unsteady vital signs. After Jordan was stable, the first step in
his continued health is to fix the PDA. To
do this, the doctor started by giving him an injection of medication that
normally reacts to the duct to close it.
After the first dose of the
medication we were given a second report.
The medication seemed to have no effect to close the duct and fix the
problem. The next step is to try a
second dose to hope for results. We were
told that Jordan’s stability had actually increased and his vital signs had
become stable and his general condition is good. We are overjoyed by this news and thankful
that he has been given a chance. After
the second dose, we were told that it was also not effective. It had a little bit more effect than the last
dose but not enough to fix the problem.
The doctors believe that the ineffectiveness of the treatment could be
due to immaturity. Based on this
decision, they are going to increase his maturity with steroids and
hormones. After this process they will
try for a third and stronger dose of the medication. If this process does not work, Jordan will
have to have open heart surgery to fix the issue. Our main concern right now is that Jordan
continues to fight long enough for his body to be ready enough to handle the
procedure. He needs time.
My own condition is much improved
but still not out of the woods. My blood
pressure is still trending to a higher level than normal but my lab tests have
shown significant improvement. The effects
of HELLP syndrome can affect my body for up to two weeks after delivery. I have to continue taking blood pressure
medication until my body readjusts.
Besides the side effects of blood pressure, I am just dealing with the
soreness from the C-section and the emotional roller coaster of the situation.
We have learned so much about God’s
blessings and power throughout this experience.
It seems like the past 4 days have been a few months out of my
life. We started out our experience
immediately asking for prayer and our friends and family have stepped up
graciously to meet that need. We have
been overwhelmed by the love and support that we are receiving on a daily
basis. We had people immediately step up
to watch Jason and Lucy, to take care of our home, to stay with us, feed us,
cry with us, and most importantly pray with us. We feel so blessed to have a strong and Godly
family surrounding us.
The Lord is teaching me to lean on
him not only hour by hour but minute by minute.
Jordan’s life is in God’s hands and we have seen his work abound so
far. To think that my precious angel has
already fought through 72 hours against all odds gives me great confidence in
God’s perfect and awesome power. I know
that God has touched Jordan and holds his life and future in his hands. He has given him strength to continue
fighting. Jordan has a long road ahead
of him to overcome this trial but we believe that God is currently showing us
his miracle. We know God is mighty and
capable and can do awesome and powerful things.
We ask for continued prayer that God will strengthen Jordan and help him
to fight through this battle. We also
pray that God would strengthen us as we deal with the human side of things.
Jacob has been such a huge
supporter toward me through this experience.
I really hope that I have been as supportive for him as he has for
me. We have prayed together, cried
together, laughed together, and worried together. God has grown our relationship even farther
because of this trial. More than
anything, I want God’s miracle to continue.
I want to see my little boy running around and wrestling with his older
brother. I want to be able to hold him
in my arms and hear him laugh, talk, learn, and grow. I know that God’s timing is perfect and I am
asking for strength to overcome my impatience and human moments of worry.
I trust in God’s plan and God’s
purpose. More than anything I want that
plan to coincide with my own plan for Jordan to have a rich, healthy, long
life. If my plan does not match God’s plan,
I am still thankful for the time I have been given with this little angel.
More so than luck, it is definitely
a godsend that we are where we are. This
hospital is one of the best equipped in the world to deal with the situation
that we are in. They have previous
success stories of many other
babies that were nurtured from this low gestational age. God knew that we needed to be here in order
to give Jordan a fighting chance and he worked that out each step of the
way. Thank you for that lord!
Lord, I ask now more than ever that
you be with my family. I have been so
blessed with an amazing husband, and two beautiful children. I ask that you would be with Jordan as he is
fighting. I ask that you would pour out
your strength on him and allow him to overcome these trials. I ask that you would give him time. I pray for the doctors that are working hard
for both Jordan and me. I pray that you give them wisdom to make the
right decisions and guide them in their knowledge and abilities. I thank you Lord for their willing hearts to
help my little boy and their desires to see him succeed. I am thankful that they are doing their best
to make sure we understand all that is going on even with the language
barrier. Lord I want to pray for Jason. He is enjoying the extra attention that he is
getting and I just pray that you would allow him to be patient and
understanding when his world has been turned upside down. Lord I want to pray for my incredible
husband. I am so blessed to have him by
my side. A man who truly cares about my
physical and emotional well-being and shows me his care. I also want to pray for myself. That I would stay strong in this process but
not be afraid to show my human side.
Help me to lift my worries and fears up to you rather than store them
inside. Most of all, thank you for the
time we have been given and the lessons we have learned along the way. Thank you for the possibilities and that your
timing is perfect. You put us here in
Japan for this exact moment and have guided our strength until now so that we
may overcome this challenge. I thank you
for this Lord and ask that you would continue to bless my family. Amen.
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