Our March of Dimes Story

When Landon and I decided to start a family we never knew what an incredibly hard, but rewarding road we were in for.  We thought it was like the movies.  You decided to have a baby, you become pregnant and in 9 months you deliver a healthy crying baby.  But for so many families it just simply doesn’t work that way. 

In September of 2006 we were overwhelmed with joy to learn that we were expecting.  Around 6 weeks into our pregnancy we learned that we were having a miscarriage.  We were heartbroken.  We had no idea why, and were basically told that lots of women miscarry on a daily basis and it was the body’s way of removing a non-viable pregnancy.  We were given the ok by our Dr. and became pregnant again in October of 2006.

Everything was going perfect with my pregnancy until around week 18.  My blood pressure became high, I developed protein in my urine, I was swelling, and was later diagnosed with preeclampsia.  We spent the next 2 weeks trying to manage it with blood pressure medication, and at 20 weeks were thrilled to find out we were expecting a baby girl.  The medication started to not work as well and it was then that I had to withdrawal in the middle of nursing school and go home to spend the remainder of my time lying on my left side.  At 27 weeks I began to have an uneasy feeling and had not felt the baby move.  After phoning my Dr. and doing kick counts, I felt her move and went to bed.  I woke up at 2am with a horrible pressure and pain in my abdomen.

 We made our way to Labor and Delivery where we then learned that our baby had stopped growing 2 weeks prior and was very small for her gestational age.  Her heart rate was so low she would not likely survive a C-section, and even if she did, our hospital, which was then in Alabama, could not sustain a baby of her size due to lacking having a NICU.  On May 6, 2007, I delivered a beautiful 1lb. 8oz. stillborn baby girl who we named Ella-Grace.  Devastation, grief, despair, anger, and empty, do not even began to describe the feeling of a mother leaving the hospital with empty arms.  Two weeks later I was admitted to ICU with 5 blood clots in my lungs and literally on the doorstep of death.  After recovering from that we learned that I had not one, but two, blood clotting disorders that played a heavy role in my miscarriage and stillbirth.

In late 2008 we decided to try again to start a family.  This time we chose to come to Nashville, TN and find a Dr. who specialized in my blood clotting disorder, and a high risk OB/GYN.  I had some testing and various things done and was then given the go ahead by the doctors.  In Feb of 2009 we learned that we were expecting for a 3^rd time.  We lived in Alabama, so we traveled back and forth to appts in Nashville.  I had to take blood thinner shots twice a day, and be on extremely light duty/bed rest pretty much the entire time.  All was going good until July; I started to develop preeclampsia again.  Once learning of this, we immediately packed our bags and temporarily moved to Nashville about 2 blocks from Baptist Hospital and my OB/GYN.  We wanted to be prepared this time if things went south like before.  I began strict bed rest and was seeing my Dr. once a week and a maternal fetal Dr. once a week as well.  We continued that until the day came when they said, “Go directly to the hospital.”  I was then 27 weeks pregnant.

 Upon arriving in Labor and delivery, our baby was showing signs of distress so I was quickly prepped for surgery and whisked away to have a C-section and deliver my baby who was too tiny to be born, but would die otherwise.  Landon “Parker” Daniel was born August 17, 2009 at 2:23p.m. At Baptist Hospital.  He weighed 1lb 8oz. and was 12 in long.  He was on 2 different types of ventilators, had collapsed lungs, a Grade II brain bleed, numerous blood transfusions, and bacterial meningitis that almost killed him.  He fought for 3 months in the NICU.  Landon and I kept our apartment a few blocks away from the hospital and went to the NICU for virtually every single visit we could.  Having lost 2 babies and being so close to losing another one, we didn’t want to miss one second with our sweet boy.

 During our stay in the NICU, we were surrounded by the best and most caring nurses and Neonatologists that we would have ever hoped for.  Not only did they save our baby but the NICU journey inspired life long bonds with the staff, and even the special Gruen family that have become like family.  We even have a March of Dimes team together.  Parker came home to Alabama in November weighing a whopping 4 lbs. and brought so much joy into our household. 

Since bringing Parker home we have been on a rollercoaster of up and downs.  We have learned that he has a Visual Impairment, Cerebral Palsy, he is non verbal, walks with an assistive device, wears leg braces, and attends every kind of therapy you can imagine on a weekly basis.  Although it takes him much longer to do things, he is working hard, and meeting goals.  Slow and steady wins the race right??  He is an amazing little boy who loves music, his chewy toys and giving kisses.  His smile can brighten any room, and make the worst day better when he wraps his hands around your face and gives you a big kiss! 

In August of 2010, to our huge surprise we learned we were expecting again.  But how can this be I asked?? After Parker I had an Intrauterine device that was suppose to be good for 10 years!!!  How am I going to do this??  We once again made the trip to Nashville to use our same OB/GYN.  He was also astonished seeing as how the IUD was exactly where he put it.  I was just the .1%.  I was told to go home and prepare my heart for a miscarriage due to the removal of the IUD and my lab levels.  I started my routine of 2 blood thinner shots a day and we were terrified out of our minds.  To my surprise I had an uneventful pregnancy and on May 9, 2011 Graham Harrison Daniel was born at 7lb 3oz. 20in long. He was a huge shock but he was just what we needed and was a perfect gift from God, and definitely completes our family.

In November of 2011, Parker’s therapy that was provided by Alabama early intervention was coming to an end.  At the age of 3, these children typically merge into the school systems to hopefully catch up with their peers.  We started to look at our options to choose carefully the best placement for Parker. Not only for school, but for medical care.  We decided that the best place for Parker was almost 3 hours away at The Tennessee School for the Blind.  Landon got transferred with his company, we packed up our home and our life, and moved to Nashville Tennessee.  It was hard leaving our home and all of our family back in Alabama, but we made the decision that was best for Parker and we haven’t looked back.

Without the hard work and funded research of March of Dimes we aren’t sure our boys would have survived.  Especially Parker.  While so many families have a NICU story of happily ever after, I am pleased to bring you our story.  Although it is happy as well.  We as a “special needs” family face trials and hard times daily.  Parker is not society’s version of “perfect”, but he is perfect for our family and we couldn’t imagine life without him.  We are a family who has experienced the whole realm of possible outcomes.  We have had a miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, full term, and our Parker lives with special needs everyday.  I thank March of Dimes for continuing to do what they do so maybe one day every single family can bring home a big healthy baby.  And to all of you families out there with special needs children, there can be incredibly isolating and lonely times.  You are not alone; we are all together fighting the same battle.  Keep fighting and pushing forward, because at the end of each terribly exhausting day it is very well worth it.

http://marchforbabies.org/team/t2076966