is the most awesome number in the whole world. You think I am crazy, I am sure, and are wondering what the hell I am doing in the cheering section of such an odd number...well, it was Aidan's neutrophil count today. Which is in the normal range, by the way, for the first time ever without the help of injectable medicine. I'll back up a bit and give the abridged version...
Aidan was born at 34 weeks due to a condition with the placenta called Vasa Previa. This means that her cord was entering the placenta from the side and it was splayed out so that the vessels in the cord were exposed. The cord crossed my cervix and she was head down very early, so there was a chance that if pressure was placed (from labor) on the cord, the vessels could bleed and Aidan would need to be taken right away. So, I was in the hospital waiting for her for 7 weeks on bed rest and having steroid shots so her lungs would be developed.
When she was born she was rushed to the NICU, but she breathed on her own right away, and she had NO PROBLEM eating either. So she moved up to what they called the "step up" room very quickly - on her way to going home with us after only 5 days. Then the Dr. approached us and told us that she had low white blood cell count. They figured it was because she was early and started monitoring her...but the count never went up and after a week they stated giving her medicine to help spur the production of the white blood cells. Nothing seemed to work and they finally sent her home with us with injectable medicine, strict rules, and two very scared parents. After a few weeks her numbers skyrocketed and she came off her meds, then they plummeted. We did a bone marrow aspiration to check for scary things...leukemia, cancer, autoimmune - no answers...everything came back fine. Since then we have been to another specialist and were finally allowed to get her vaccinations and put her into daycare. Her Dr's are stumped - she seems healthy, but the numbers are all over the place.
I know not to get excited, but her number today was so great...we go back in a month and I pray they stay high - we don't want to do another bone marrow aspiration. This roller coaster ride has been so much for our family...we want answers, but we want good ones...this could be a step in that direction. For today, at least, things are good...
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My son was born 6 weeks early as well. I was seeing 2 doctors at the time and after monitoring me and putting me on diets to increase my son's and my weight it was decided that they would deliver him via c-section 6 weeks prior to his due date. When Owen came out it was discovered that he had a knot in his umbillical cord! So he was only getting his nutrition at certain intervals. After his birth I had barely any time to spend with him before they rushed him to ANOTHER HOSPITAL in the area! Thank God my husband was there to help! Once he got to the NICU at the other hospital he stayed there for 8 days. Each day was better than the next! The best day of all was when they took him out of the incubator and let me hold him!! The sweetest look came across his face, he knew his mommy was holding him!! On the day he was discharged he was the only one in a regular bassinet. Once he was out of the womb they sky was the limit! He is now 2 and growing like a weed! I am so appreciative of the wonderful staff who took care of Owen! He is my miracle baby! Had they waited any longer to deliver, who knew what would have occurred!
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