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Emma was born at 1:43 p.m. on Wednesday, January 13, 1999. She weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. and was 19 & 1/2 inches long. After an uneventful pregnancy, we finally decided to induce labor on the 11th day after my due date. Due to some abnormalities in Emma's heart rate, and emergency c-section was recommended (the doctor felt that there was a 50% chance that Emma was not getting enough oxygen). After Emma was born, we found a knot in her umbilical cord. The doctor said that the knot was so tight that nothing could have been getting through. That is what ultimately caused the damage to Emma's brain. Her diagnosis is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: damage to cells in the central nervous system from inadequate oxygen. Some of the complications caused by the brain damage included no suck, swallow, gag, or cry reflexes (which kept her from being able to eat orally); and very little purposeful movement. After 12 days in NICU at our local hospital, Emma came home! Although Emma had had a rough start in life, she has made tremendous strides developmentally! |