What Happened

November 8th, 2004 I was on my way to see my sweet baby in a scheduled sonogram. I knew at 18 weeks he (which we didn’t know that he was a “he”) measured exactly 18 weeks and at 22 he only measured 21 weeks. The doctor scheduled another sonogram at 26 weeks to make sure he was still growing like he should. We weren’t worried at all … in fact we were excited to be able to see him again via sonogram. I called my sister on the way to share my excitement. “I am going to see my baby!!!”

We got into the office and proceeded with this level 2 sonogram. Dr. Pedron is a chatter box. He talks non stop about his 15 kids (not really 15 but it was a lot of kids and most of them were boys so I felt very sorry for him) and he wanted to know all about our other two kids. Once he finished measuring, I knew exactly where to look to see how many weeks. 23 weeks!!! My heart sunk, but I am sure he just measured wrong. He started over and this time Dr. Pedron was dead silent. We watched him measure and re-measure in silence.

He finally spoke up and said “we have a problem”. He had a list of things wrong… my blood pressure (of course), blood and oxygen flow to the baby had pretty much stopped, yada yada yada, I was admitted to the hospital. They took my blood and gave me the steroid shot. I still was not TOO worried because I had been in the hospital several times with Lexie and Zach. I called Debbie (my sister) again and said “OK… I am now in the hospital but probably just for the night.”
Dr. Pedron doesn’t deliver babies any more, and Dr. Simmons is his partner so he takes over from here. My blood work discovered that my liver levels were high and my platelets were low. Dr. Simmons said we need 48 hours for the steroids to work. WHAT??? 48 hours? I will sit in this stupid hospital for 3 months but you are NOT taking MY baby before that!!!

They drew more blood to recheck everything. Trent took the kids home where they stayed with “Always there for me” Talley. He packed us a bag since I might be a month or two in the hospital. I called my poor sister again and said “they are trying to hold off taking the baby for 48 hours. Please call everyone.” I am starting to panic now… : )

Dr. Pedron called me and said that Dr. Simmons called him with the results of the 2nd blood work. It was worse. They were in agreement that they needed to take the baby right away. I tried to speak but I couldn’t… My poor baby didn’t have a chance… I knew he didn’t weigh more than a pound and a half from the sonogram. I tried so hard to breath so that I could talk. NOTHING! Dr. Pedron said “Pam, take your time. I want you to know that if this was my wife and my baby, I would deliver right away. If you don’t, you both might die.” I thought of Alexis and Zachary. I thought of the picture in Dr. Pedron’s office of a Surgeon working on someone and Jesus was behind him guiding his hands. I finally managed “OK”. Dr. Simmons was on his way back up to the hospital to deliver my little baby.

I hung up the phone and the nurses immediately came in to get me dressed. I called Trent as they were wheeling me out. I prayed to God that he would hurry. I then called POOR POOR Debbie and said they are taking the baby. (of course she still hadn’t called anyone because she couldn’t stop crying. UGGGG!! Scotty ended up having to call.)

I got down to the holding room where Prayer #1 was answered… Trent showed up. And within minutes the phone rings. It is my mom. Somehow Mom’s always know where to find you. Somehow Mom’s always know what to say. It is truly amazing!!!

The nurses prepped me for the c-section and started the ever dreaded Magnesium drip on me. It all seems like a blur now but I remember that Tory showed up shortly after Trent did (and he lives twice as far). I remember Talley coming into what seemed a very tiny room for so many people to be in there. WAIT!!! Who had the kids??? Jennifer said that she would keep them so Talley could come up. BUT when it came down to it, Jennifer’s husband had to keep the kids because Jennifer couldn’t wait at home either.

Once again I was wheeled away without my husband. He had to get scrubbed up or something. Dr. Simmons who I just met a few hours ago did not let go of my hand until Trent showed back up. He was even with me for my spinal tap and while they strapped me down. This is not something I wanted to do especially without Trent.

Trent sat down next to me and said “I told you we should have figured out names!!!” ????? Names were still not even a worry for me. I said if it is a girl, it will be Hope or Faith. If it was a boy, his name would be Zane. Zane was born in a totally different manor than we could ever have imagined him to be. I wanted to see him, but when they passed by he was so little I couldn’t see. I remember a nurse saying “Pam, you will see him later.” I knew it was not good.

From here, it is all a blur. I don’t remember Trent leaving me at all but he said he went with Zane up to the NICU. He waited up there for 45 minutes to hear that his son was alive. The nurses still talk to me about that night and how they watched Trent pace.

I don’t know how … that is not true. I do know exactly what kept my sweet little angel alive… all your prayers. Prayers from his mommy and daddy, from all his aunts and uncles, definitely from all his grandmas and grandpas, from all the friends in the waiting room, from everyone. Thank you for my son.