Update: Charlie just had his golden birthday on January 3. He is happy, healthy and thriving. His language skills are phenomenal. He seems so much older than he actually is. Sometimes I think that the cooling blanket gave him a boost to his brain power because he is one smart little fella.
Please keep sharing your stories with me!
Hi Melissa! I just want to congratulate you on all of the accomplishments and milestones you've reached with your Charlie! What an adorable & amazing little guy he is!
ReplyDeleteI also want to thank you for sharing your personal journey. On September 3, 2013 I was admitted for what I thought would be the "routine" birth of my 5th child. During the last few moments of his birth experience things became anything but routine. Our Charlie went into severe distress and was in very bad shape upon delivery. His APGAR's were 0, 0, 2, 5 & we were given a prognosis that there was not much hope. We were given the option to have him transferred to another hospital, about 1 1/2 hours away, where he would be "cooled". We, as I'm certain you were, were terrified, confused, devastated. Charlie was taken away, my husband followed & I was released the next morning. In the days that followed I stayed at a Ronald McDonald house near the hospital to be with Charlie. My husband brought all 4 of our other children the 1 1/2 hour trip every day so we could have dinner as a family. Our new life was so surreal and scary. After Charlie was starting to be "warmed" I felt human enough again to start researching what this all meant and the possibilities it might hold for our son. It was during this time that I came across your blog. I can't even describe the sense of relief I felt in reading your words-seeing that the idea of recovery was a possibility-and most of all, seeing my own son's name in your retelling made me feel like this would all turn out okay. We were told a possibility of months was what we should plan for-we brought him home after 16 days!!
Our Charlie is now 6 1/2 months old. Two days ago he returned for his first evaluation by his NICU Developmental team. They were so impressed by his progress and he was given a perfect report! He has met all of the cognitive & developmental criteria of a "normal" 6 month old. It is with great appreciation that I say Thank You to you again for sharing your story and for providing families such as ours with the hope that we would be able to take our baby Charlie home and help him grow and thrive. Many blessings to you and your family and your Charlie!!
Hello! Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your story. It is so great to hear that he is doing so well and gives me more faith in what cooling can do. We are definitely very blessed that our children were given this treatment. I think about how lucky I am every day. Take care and I wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteHi! It's been nearly 10 years since being here last. I can't believe how fast time has flown! My Carter was also born with Meconium aspiration and thankfully the hospital I gave birth at had 1 blanket available. He was put directly on it.
ReplyDeleteNow fast forward 2 years and he's amazing! I too believe the blanket gave him a turbo brain boost! He's so much more mature than other 2 year olds and his speech is impeccable. The doctors at his NICU gave no hope of a normal childhood for him. They kept telling me to not cling too tightly or not expect him to do much. I never listened! Today is his 2nd Birthday, and I intend on coming here every single bday for as long as I can to say Thank You! Your blog gave me hope. It was the first time I read anything absolutely positive when I was sitting in that NICU waiting room day in and day out. This technology saved my son's life. I'm forever grateful
Positive thoughts bring positive outcomes! I appreciate you coming back to visit and giving me an update. That is such great news! You definitely made me cry..happy tears of course. Until next year!
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ReplyDeleteI just received a call from my dear friend that they are about to embark on, what I hope, is a similar road. Gabriel is being flown as we speak to Oakland Children's Hospital to be "cooled". As I seat in shock, your story and Charlie's gorgeous face looking at me brings such power, positive light & hope to me. Once Mom & Dad are settled I will share this with them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your journey with the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words and I wish your friend the best of luck. I am sure she appreciates all of your support.
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