Thursday, November 23, 2006

Tough start

Quinn Lee is in stable condition. He chose a good day and age to come into the world. He was born with an uncommon combination of a few common anomolies. Outside he looks fine, but inside, he'll require a few surgeries to get him working proper. My insurance company is gonna have to break out the checkbook. Let me do the best I can to explain.
Right after he was born, the doctors noticed he was having trouble with too much fluid remaining in his lungs. They went to drop a suction tube down his throat when they ran into another problem. His asophogus was not fully connected to his stomach. So suddenly he was being transported to the Women and Infants intensive care unit for further eval. Steph remained at the hospital to recover from the child berth while I went up to Providence to be with our new son.
In Providence, they found two holes in his heart and some underdevelopements that will require surgery to correct. They found his intestine not fully developed, and a few anomolies with his asophogus, and windpipe. All of these are completely fixable with todays doctors, but timing has become the issue with him being so young and the doctors wanting to make sure his heart can handle the operations.
The first day of his life has been unexpected and I feel awful for what he has to go through. The night he was born was quickly pulled from a sentimental moment to a whirlwind of decision making and doctor consulting. Steph never got to hold the baby, only look at him and touch him for a short while from a wheelchair. When I followed him to Providence hospital, the doctors wanted to have him moved to Boston hospital that same night for immediate heart surgery. I'm doing my best to relay this information back to Steph while reading surgical waivers, and still sound calm and optimistic. Well, Quinn's heart kept beating steadily and his blood oxygen level rose up and maintained. So the doctors shifted priorities of having him moved again. They will now be repairing the anomolies other than his heart because his heart is strong.
We are still in the IC unit in Providence. Steph joined me today and we've been hanging with Quinn. The poor guy has quit a few IV's and tubes going into him. The section we are in will only allow parents, and one grandparent at a time that is accompanied by one of us. Quinn is surrounded by tiny premie babies, so even at six pounds he's looking like the big kid on the block.
I have a few pictures from the first night that I spent with Quinn. It was day two for me without sleep. No sleep feels much different than it did at 20yrs old in the navy.

This is Quinn about two hours after his birth. He was moving around, breathing good, and crying.















Once Quinn and I got to Providence, I finaly got to hold him. With nothing to do all night but hang by his side alone, I got in some good bonding time. And a one of a kind true test of whatever emotional capacity I thought I had. I don't know how I looked, but I don't think I hid my nerves very well. A few of the nurses watched my face as the doctors explained the issues to me and began crying themselves.














When he cries or gets fussy, his blood oxygen level goes down because of how his heart pumps the blood. He stays on these calming meds that keep him pretty much sedated and keep his testoserone in check. So most of the time he's just asleep with the machines monitoring him.














And these are some close ups.















Like I said, he is stable and strong, and a bigger trooper than I would've ever imagined. I have more pics of the grandparents visiting and Steph before and after (not during) labor. I will be putting them up shortly. I just wanted people to be able to see him because he will be in IC for a good while. The word is over a month at least for the required surgerical procedures. Thanks everyone for having your thoughts with us.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will be praying for you guys and Quinn!!!

I am sure he will be just fine!

Love Erin

Anonymous said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I am sure Quinn is a tough guy like his daddy! My best to you all.

He looks like his daddy.

With love,
Toby

Anonymous said...

Stephanie and Dan, Thank you so much for the e-mail about Quinn's arrival. He is such a beautiful boy and so lucky to have such strong and loving parents. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Love, Lisa

Anonymous said...

We are thinking of the three of you! He's a gorgeous little boy, and with a mom & dad who love him so much already, we know he will be just fine. We are so sorry that he's having such a rough beginning. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
Much love,
Kelly & Shawn

Anonymous said...

Steph and Dan,

Congratulations. Quinn is a beautiful baby. I'm sure he will be just fine after this rough start. This must be so stressful, but you guys seem to be coping so well. Best wishes,

Jim and Meghan

Anonymous said...

Hi! My name is Sunny & I'm Kelly Hobbs' cousin (Ashley's mom). I've been clicking on Kelly's link to your blog over the course of your pregnancy. And, I just want to let you know we'll be praying for your baby & your whole family. What a rough start! But, you sound really calm and I'm sure that Quinn will come through everything just fine. God bless your new little miracle.

Anonymous said...

Hi Steph and Dan. Jess updated me. Just wanted you to know that Dave and I are thinking about you and holding on to good thoughts for Quinn's rapid recovery. He is a cutie and I hope you have him home and in your arms real soon. We will come to visit when things settle down.
Love, Fran

Anonymous said...

Steph and Dan - it's been years since I've thought of you, but Aimee has kept me posted on your pregnancy and now your little miracle. We will be praying for him and you both. He's beautiful and I just know you will bring him home soon with no tubes....

All our prayers,
Toby and Liz (Lindstrom) LaBarbera