The Story

On Wednesday, September 17th I went to labor and delivery because baby Ella wasn't moving like she should, and at 8:45pm she was delivered by an emergency C-section. I was 26 weeks pregnant and she weighed 14 ounces at birth. Right after her birth, she was lifeflighted to San Antonio's Methodist Children's Hospital where they have a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Aaron followed Ella to San Antonio on Thursday morning and I had to stay in the hospital in Victoria until Friday. I rested and followed my family to San Antonio.

Right after Ella was born the nurses told us that she was breathing on her own and in fact when they would have to perform tests or such they said she was giving them dirty looks. Aaron made sure everyone knows she got her attitude from me. She's a fighter!

As of today, she is stable but still sick. There is a vein in your heart that stays open in the womb and after birth closes within a few days but in Ella's case is not closing. The vein, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), causes blood to bypass the lungs, circulating out to the body without picking up vital oxygen. This issue occurs in about 80% of premies that are under 1 pound at birth. Right now the doctors are delaying any surgery because her body is functioning in spite of the PDA.