Brianna Gives Hope: Things are Looking Up

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Things are Looking Up

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2007 02:39 PM, CDT
Two updates in one day....things must be going well. Brianna has been in such a good mood. The breathing tube came out and she has been doing fantastic. They also removed the drainage tube from her chest. Imagine this, her chest is approximately 5 inches in width, and 8 inches in length and the drainage tube they removed from her chest was 12 inches long. They're getting ready now to remove the arterial line (that's a line connected directly to the artery in her leg). She is also being fed continually through a tube in her nose. If things continue the way they are now she should be able to have a bottle tomorrow. What a fighter this little girl is.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2007 11:17 AM, EDT
Finally...the breathing tube has been removed again. Yesterday the sedatives simply didn't leave her body fast enough which left her drowsy most of the day. She was waking up by early afternoon but they didn't want to remove the tube then because of the skeleton night staff. I took some photos earlier but can't seem to get them resized to fit on the page. Jerry is going to work on that later. So plan on seeing some photos later today.
Brianna looks great! No swelling, just petite little baby girl. Both Jerry and I got to hold her this morning too. What a treat!

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Definition of Trisomy 18

Edwards Syndrome : Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18) is a chromosomal abnormality where there is an extra chromosome present in every cell of the body. This is an example of where “the more the merrier” is not true. This extra chromosome means that every cell has extra information encoded into it. The extra information causes confusion in the way that the cells are formed and results in the potential malformation of all of the body systems. Sadly, this condition is considered "not compatible with life". Just like with Down's Syndrome (Trisomy 21), there is a wide range of how this condition will play out (what the doctor's will refer to as your child's phenotype). Unfortunately because there is more information encoded on the 18th chromosome, the severity of this condition is greater than that of Down's Syndrome. Current studies show that while 1:1500 children will be diagnosed prenatally with trisomy 18, only half that number (or 1:3000) will be born alive at full term. Of those who survive to birth, only half will make it to two months of age, and only 10% will survive to their first birthday. Children who live can be an important part of their family and community, but are profoundly developmentally delayed.

But oh, how we love these special little babies. When Brianna was born we were told she would probably leave this earth within 24 hours...but look at her now. 24 months old, healthy, adorable and amazing. God has been so good. Brenda

Bri's Medical Condition

Brianna was full-term born on April 12, 2007, weighing 5 lb 18 oz and 18" long. Her Apgar scores at birth were 8 and 9. Approximately 15 hours after her birth we were advised of the tentative Trisomy 18 diagnosis.

Immediate health issues had to do with her heart: Mainly, a VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect); PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus) ; and a PFO.

Open Heart Surgery at 4 months and

G-tube placement before we came home.

Eye surgery in Spring of '08 to correct cross-eyes.

Tubes placed in ears in Fall of '08 hoping to quash the numerous ear infections.

Scan of abdominal section in Dec. '08. Everthing appears normal.

Brianna takes formula by g-tube but eats baby food by mouth. She can hear, see, is rolling over, sitting up, trying to crawl, playing with toys, says "da da"; "do it, do it, do it" and various other sounds. She is the happiest child we have ever known.

We are so very blessed.

Brianna Gives Hope

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Things are Looking Up

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Our Family, Nov 2007

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