I am writing this story on behalf of
my daughter, who does not have a
computer. She would like to share her
experience with others.
In August 2003, she lost a baby to
stillbirth for unknown reasons at 7
months gestation. She was
devastated. It took 2 years before
she felt strong enough to try again.
She consulted a doctor who specializes
in high-risk pregnancies. In January
2006, she became pregnant again, but
miscarried about 6 weeks later. The
doctor said that her hormone levels
were never high enough and that it was
never a normal pregnancy.
In March 2006 she surprisingly became
pregnant again. All was going
smoothly until the ultrasound at 22
weeks disclosed that she had very low
amniotic fluid. She had been leaking
slowly for about 2 weeks at that
time. The doctor put her on bed rest
immediately, but did not admit her to
the hospital until 2 weeks later
(Labor Day, 4 September), because the
fetus was not considered viable until
that time.
She was sent to a hospital with a
level III NICU, so the baby would have
a high level of care. They gave her 2
steroid shots and an IV antibiotic.
She was told that in the unlikely
event that she could avoid infection
or pre-term labor, she would have a C-
section to deliver the baby at 34
weeks. No one thought she had a
chance. Every day, a different doctor
(there were 7 in all!) would come in
with another gloom and doom story.
Either the baby’s lungs would not
work, or the baby would have Down’s
syndrome, or there would be kidney or
heart failure. Then, 2 weeks after
she was admitted, it was determined
that she also had gestational
diabetes, which posed even greater
risk for the baby and for my
daughter. There did not seem to be
much hope. Even the social workers
and chaplains counseled her to accept
another tragedy. She was in tears
every day.
Meanwhile, the fetal heart monitor
every 8 hours showed a very strong
heartbeat that gave us hope. I wrote
the word “BELIEVE” in huge letters on
the dry erase board in her room. We
talked to the baby constantly and
refused to give up. We told the baby
she had to wait until at least
Halloween before she could come out
(the doctors all agreed that the baby
was a girl based on the ultrasound,
but they were not 100% sure).
Halloween (my daughter’s favorite
holiday) came and went, and still the
baby showed a strong heartbeat and
good growth on the ultrasounds. Still
negativity on the part of the doctors,
especially with regard to the lungs.
The date of 6 November was set for the
C-section.
We are here to tell everyone that
miracles happen, and Michael Mason
Bonner (surprise, a boy!), born at
8:06 am on November 6, 2006, is one of
them. He weighed 3 pounds 6 ounces,
and was 16 inches long. On the Apgar
scale of 1 to 10 – with 10 being the
highest score, and a score of 8 or
higher being good for survival – our
little Michael scored 8.9! He is on
an oxygen cannula and the bili-rubin
light for jaundice, but other than
that, he is doing great.
It seems there was a small pocket of
fluid that helped him develop his
lungs and allowed him to move about,
avoiding orthopedic problems as well.
As soon as he can breathe on his own,
take food on his own, and maintain his
body temperature, he will be allowed
to go home. They are estimating about
2-3 weeks. His mother will be going
home in a few days, as soon as they
are sure her blood sugar is okay (it’s
fine so far).
We have prayed to every God under the
sun – God, Jesus Christ, Allah,
Buddha, Krishna, Great Spirit, the
Universe – you name it! Someone was
listening, and our little Michael is a
fighter. If you are having problems,
or if you have suffered the grief of
losing a baby, please don’t give up.
God is good, and there is always
hope. Find good doctors, especially
perinatologist specialists and a good
high level NICU. We are praying for
everyone on the PPROM list and for
everyone who has submitted stories.
May God bless you all.
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