I believe that Isabella is in my life for reasons that I am unsure of at this point. I am so thankful to have her even if we had not had the brush with death at one month of age. I had become type 2 diabetic for the first time of three pregnancies. The diet I was on actually had me only gain 7 lbs. the entire pregnancy. My water broke(Sept 26, 2007) one week ahead of my scheduled c-section. I was admitted to the labor and delivery when we discovered, after being asked by the nurse, that we did not know what my GBS status was. I later found out my doctor had omitted this due to the c-section. I also learned that this infection can still get to the baby through the placenta in some cases and that even c-sections are not immune to infecting babies. At the time I did not know what they were asking about and no one cared to explain it to me. I know that they started me on an antibiotic IV due to this. Labor did not progress as hoped and I did not deliver until Sept. 28, 2007.
Other than slight jaundice, as my other two had, they said she was a healthy 5 lb., 11 oz. girl. Isabella was only afforded the residual antibiotics that I was given at the time of labor. I also learned that in many other hospitals it is routine to send the baby to NICU and be given IV antibiotics for three days when the mother's GBS status is unknown. At the time my main concern was her blood sugar being normal and my husband was concerned with her jaundice. We went home three days later with bili blanket in tow for a week. Exactly one month later we found ourselves back at the hospital with her clinging to life. After a night of her having colic-like symptoms, I dressed her lightly then swaddled her for comfort and held her for about 4 hours. We took that brief nap sitting up only to wake up to a nightmare. It was 4:00 am and I was going to nurse her again, except this time she couldn't respond. She only grunted faintly and she was limp. She had a fever of 103. I thought I had gotten her too warm by holding her. I hysterically woke my husband and then somehow we had our nine year old and eight year old all at the hospital in less than 10 minutes. After way too many moments of the ER doctors and nurses poking her with needles for a good vein they finally got one in her scalp and then proceeded to do the spinal tap. None of these activities rendered even a flinch from Isabella.
After the golden fluid was removed from Isabella, they knew it wasn't good. We were whisked away to the PICU where, as God would have it, the doctor had just popped back in to check on the floor. We were told to wait for about 15 minutes so they could settle her in her room and the doctor could examine her. One hour and 45 minutes later we were reunited. Many times I was at the nurses' station asking when they would be finished. I kept seeing doctors in a full sprint to her room. She remained heavily sedated but not comatose for about 5 days. I have never been more scared of anything in my life. When the doctor told me she had tried to check out on him "in a big way" three times, I did not want to understand what he said asthis couldn't be happening to Isabella. After he and the other specialist were done explaining what we were in a battle with and that they would do everything possible to combat what issues could arise next, I felt completely helpless. All I had left was hope, so I had her baptized immediately and gave her to God (as if she were mine) and I begged Him to please give her back to me. Everyone kept asking what they could do. All I could request was prayer for Isabella. I watched Isabella swell to 3 times her normal size with two main lines, a ventilator, two IVs, a chest tube drain, daily chest x-rays, and several EEGs that pulled out all her hair several times all while being told not to touch her or talk to her so I wouldn't cause seizure activity.
So now after 4 CT scans, 1 MRI, a deep vein thrombosis on the left side of her brain, 3 months of heparin/coumidin therapy, phenobarbital daily, eye surgery for crossing, OT and PT weekly, 21 days of IV antibiotics, vision and hearing tests, continual prayers of our community, Isabella is now 11 months old (developmentally 6 months) and doing well. She has had to fight for everything she has learned but she has her family in her corner. I continue to have a Pediatric Neurologist follow her development as well as she is already enrolled at the local Shriners Hospital if needed in the future. She will be getting her cranial shaping helmet soon too. We have great hope that walking is in our future, but we take it one step at a time and cherish each moment. I am doing it solo right now as my husband is serving in Iraq at the present time, but having Isabella healthy is worth every minute. Her big brother and sister are also greatful to have her in their lives, even at 2:00 in the morning. I apologize for the long story but I felt compelled to share a survival story. While in the hospital researching info on the horrible infection called strep B, I found that the majority of the stories all ended in loss. This was very discouraging to read. So I pray that this can find someone in need of hope, even in the chance that they will get to hold their little one again soon. May God bless you all and bring peace to your lives and your babies.
— Donna Feliciano, LA, USA
Bella's mother tries to tell her experience and newfound knowledge of specific symptoms with all women who will listen.
Other than slight jaundice, as my other two had, they said she was a healthy 5 lb., 11 oz. girl. Isabella was only afforded the residual antibiotics that I was given at the time of labor. I also learned that in many other hospitals it is routine to send the baby to NICU and be given IV antibiotics for three days when the mother's GBS status is unknown. At the time my main concern was her blood sugar being normal and my husband was concerned with her jaundice. We went home three days later with bili blanket in tow for a week. Exactly one month later we found ourselves back at the hospital with her clinging to life. After a night of her having colic-like symptoms, I dressed her lightly then swaddled her for comfort and held her for about 4 hours. We took that brief nap sitting up only to wake up to a nightmare. It was 4:00 am and I was going to nurse her again, except this time she couldn't respond. She only grunted faintly and she was limp. She had a fever of 103. I thought I had gotten her too warm by holding her. I hysterically woke my husband and then somehow we had our nine year old and eight year old all at the hospital in less than 10 minutes. After way too many moments of the ER doctors and nurses poking her with needles for a good vein they finally got one in her scalp and then proceeded to do the spinal tap. None of these activities rendered even a flinch from Isabella.
After the golden fluid was removed from Isabella, they knew it wasn't good. We were whisked away to the PICU where, as God would have it, the doctor had just popped back in to check on the floor. We were told to wait for about 15 minutes so they could settle her in her room and the doctor could examine her. One hour and 45 minutes later we were reunited. Many times I was at the nurses' station asking when they would be finished. I kept seeing doctors in a full sprint to her room. She remained heavily sedated but not comatose for about 5 days. I have never been more scared of anything in my life. When the doctor told me she had tried to check out on him "in a big way" three times, I did not want to understand what he said asthis couldn't be happening to Isabella. After he and the other specialist were done explaining what we were in a battle with and that they would do everything possible to combat what issues could arise next, I felt completely helpless. All I had left was hope, so I had her baptized immediately and gave her to God (as if she were mine) and I begged Him to please give her back to me. Everyone kept asking what they could do. All I could request was prayer for Isabella. I watched Isabella swell to 3 times her normal size with two main lines, a ventilator, two IVs, a chest tube drain, daily chest x-rays, and several EEGs that pulled out all her hair several times all while being told not to touch her or talk to her so I wouldn't cause seizure activity.
So now after 4 CT scans, 1 MRI, a deep vein thrombosis on the left side of her brain, 3 months of heparin/coumidin therapy, phenobarbital daily, eye surgery for crossing, OT and PT weekly, 21 days of IV antibiotics, vision and hearing tests, continual prayers of our community, Isabella is now 11 months old (developmentally 6 months) and doing well. She has had to fight for everything she has learned but she has her family in her corner. I continue to have a Pediatric Neurologist follow her development as well as she is already enrolled at the local Shriners Hospital if needed in the future. She will be getting her cranial shaping helmet soon too. We have great hope that walking is in our future, but we take it one step at a time and cherish each moment. I am doing it solo right now as my husband is serving in Iraq at the present time, but having Isabella healthy is worth every minute. Her big brother and sister are also greatful to have her in their lives, even at 2:00 in the morning. I apologize for the long story but I felt compelled to share a survival story. While in the hospital researching info on the horrible infection called strep B, I found that the majority of the stories all ended in loss. This was very discouraging to read. So I pray that this can find someone in need of hope, even in the chance that they will get to hold their little one again soon. May God bless you all and bring peace to your lives and your babies.
— Donna Feliciano, LA, USA
Bella's mother tries to tell her experience and newfound knowledge of specific symptoms with all women who will listen.