Casey's Story:Her Gift To Us

Where do I start? I guess the logical place would be in September before Casey was born. I had an ultrasound test to verify the weight of baby and water since I was so big. The doctor was concerned and now I guess I'm glad I found out then what I did. I was carrying mainly water but there was a heart abnormality as well. I had to go to London for a more extensive test. Drinking all the water before going to London wasn't fun with the 401 and the main road into London under road repair construction.
Clarence, Mike (daddy) and I went to St. Joseph hospital. They wanted me to go for a Level Three Ultrasound, which was a more in-depth level scan of the unborn child. They were talking with terms that I knew but like I was not there. They were talking about the arteries and chambers of the heart. The technician had called her supervisor and was talking as if I had no ears. Finally they asked me to go to the bathroom because they were having trouble getting an accurate picture with all the water. They also asked if anyone was with me. Now that they had scared me they asked if I had someone for support. Mike arrived a few minutes before they returned and was consoling me since I was so shaken up by the conversation. I was explaining why I was upset so this time he was prepared.
This memory was described as I felt at that very moment. The head radiologist came just after Mike arrived. Then finally the team started talking to both of us about what they were seeing. They were explaining what problems they saw with the heart. I was a mess needless to say. They told me what was there and what was missing. They gave the heart issue a name. The staff wanted me to return on Friday to see the Head of Cardiology and to have an amniocentesis would be done at that time. (An amniocentesis is a test that physicians can do on expectant women. It uses a very long needle to remove the fluid around the baby for testing. It is taken through the tummy wall.)
What they failed to plan was that I was still working. They told me that I might go into labor afterwards. I also had to make arrangements to not be working and transfer the keys to the store. I had planned to still work for at least two weeks yet. I went home and made arrangements to transfer the store and return the following Monday to the hospital.
I had made arrangements with Daddy's boss to take me down to London. When I told mom (Grandma Gail) what was going on and that I would be alone for the test she was not happy. Mom decided to drive down to be there with me during the test since Daddy had to work. She also stayed with me until after the test. She then got me settled into my room. What a rough time I had! Mom wasn't comfortable driving the 401. She had been living on Manitoulin Island so she was used to a slower pace of driving. Constantly I was having tests for baby’s heart rate to ensure it was stable when they could pin her down.
With what I refer to as her swimming pool the nursing staff had trouble getting the rate. She kept moving on them. The staff told mom that my blood pressure was high and they were concerned. I told mom what they had expected to find. I was in the hospital being poked and tested. I didn't have any idea if my child would survive or when she would arrive. No wonder my pressure was so screwy.
With the heart condition they thought it was, I didn't have any idea what was going to happen. I was alone on the side for moms who had given birth. After a few days a bed opened and I was transferred to the neonatal side of the floor. Finally I met other mothers who were also waiting to deliver their child. These mothers had issues with pregnancy and were in varied stages of pregnancy. No longer alone did seem to help me somewhat.
Anyone less than thirty-six weeks in the pregnancy stayed at St Joseph. I met a girl who was in the hospital for almost five weeks and another carrying twins whose water had broken but the twins had survived with pockets of birth-sac near by. They were born just a few days before my daughter. There were others who would be there longer because they were very early in the pregnancy and needed bed rest.
We had an induced labor planned for Thursday. Both Daddy and Grandma Gail were in attendance. They had come down the night before and stayed at a house near by for people with patients in the hospital. Unknown to me I had started to have labor the afternoon before. My backache was actually back labor pains. Casey wanted to come out to see us and was getting impatient.
The next day the nurses woke me and we started by seven thirty in the morning. Grandma Gail never told me that she had back labor with her first child. Daddy and Grandma Gail arrive just before eight so they could all be there for the birth. When I got to the Labor Room, I told the staff to add extra padding to the bed. The little blue pads would not be enough. I had informed the ladies that I was carrying a lot of water. I started a drug in my IV to increase my contractions.
During the labour pains I never said a word. The student nurse realized that I was focusing quietly during contractions. She just asked the number for verification when the cycle was done. She was pleased on how well I was handling the labour pains.
When the intern OB decided to break the sac to get things progressing, I warned her as well! They put two long flannel sheets in rolls along the bed edge to stop the water from hitting the floor or the OB intern since she already had changed once. She didn't believe me but she still got splashed.
The next few minutes were rather hectic. Grandma Gail and daddy left when the heart rate dropped since it was a tiny room. First a fetal clip was attached to Casey's head to monitor her heart rate. They had to stop trying to move Casey to the birthing channel because her heart rate dropped. They let her settle and they tried to remove as much water as possible from the bed with suction. They stopped after a cylinder and a half later. They were trying to move Casey down towards the birth canal. So I wouldn't be laying in water while they remade the bed with me in it. Casey was not happy with my position being changed and her heart rate dropped again.
After the second time I was rushed to the operating room for an emergency surgery to deliver my child. Since I had opted not to use any drugs for pain I had to be put to sleep for surgery and delivery. I barely remember much except for the cloth being hung between the doctor and me. Cassandra Lilian Hamilton was born at eleven fifty nine am Thursday, October 22, 1998. When I woke up in the Recovery Room daddy was there. The doctor told him that we had a boy. Daddy told me.
The doctor had delivered too many babies that morning and didn't remember which father went with which child. The student nurse corrected him and informed him that it was a girl. She was present when my sweet angel was delivered. She had followed me from delivery to recovery to continue the monitoring. Both the student nurses were still with me one was from labor and the other delivery. I was in so much pain all I remember is saying it hurts in a raspy voice and that I wasn't listening to the conversation.
I was given drugs then proceeded to go back to sleep. I woke up the second time back in a room with daddy and his brother Bryan. He had arrived during one of my waking moments with flowers. Grandma Gail had seen my angel and gone home. Everyone saw my baby girl before me. All I saw was a picture of my little red head with a lot of tubes and oxygen. She was in an islet. It is a special crib for small babies who need warmth and oxygen rich air to survive. It maintains the proper body temperature especially when the kids are born too early and need help to live.
It was the next day before I was able to go down and see my girl. I wasn't able to walk but I could ride a wheelchair. Casey wasn't able to nurse but I was still pumping the milk for her so she would have the anti-bodies. They had to shave her hair in spots for IV needles. On babies they use those veins because they are easier to find. They saved the hair in a little bag for us. There was also a tube in her belly button to remove excess acid fluids. Since she wasn't able to eat properly the stomach acids needed to be kept under control. They told me that once Casey was stable but would go to Victoria Hospital for a more accurate heart testing.
It would be with the head pediatric cardiologist. They wanted to know exactly what her heart was doing since they couldn't get a clear picture before. We finally got to hold her, which was a bit of a challenge with all the lines, and monitor leads. She was so tiny. She had curly fine red hair and blue eyes. It was love at first sight of course! She was stable, thank heaven. She had a lot of visitors those first few days but the neonatal had limits. (Neonatal Unit is for babies who need extra care because they were born too early or cause of health issues. They needed extra special attention.) Because the space was limited and because of the health of the tiny occupants there were restrictions for this specialized nursery.
Catherine and Tish (two of students on staff at work) got to hold her and take pictures. My godparents also came and saw my angel. But Mike's uncle Bob and Aunt Sheila didn't get to see her because of the limit. I was pumping breast milk for Casey as often as a normal mom would nurse. I went to see her as often as I could. If I had help, I held her as well. I would hold her as long as I could before she got too cold or I needed a nap. Having a caesarian can be just as draining as a normal birth.
It was day four when she went for her first echo cardiogram. It is a test that shows what the heart is doing. I was told to go with her by the cardiac team. But the nurses at St Joseph never told me when she was going, I told to stay because she was to return there. I waited and worried about what they would find. As the afternoon progressed I became increasingly nervous about my girl. I had been discharged and found myself lost without her.
It was a strain because she remained at Victoria. I had no clue where she was and what was happening! All new mothers ride an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. My mom (Gail) got the social worker involved. The social worker was trying to calm me down before I went into panic mode. She was making calls to locate my daughter. It didn't work well until I was told to go to Victoria Hospital. Casey was staying there.
I wasn't happy but I at least knew where my daughter was finally. Mom and I packed up and drove to Victoria Hospital. Once we got inside, I went to the admitting desk to find out where Casey was. A volunteer guided me to the PCCU or Pediatric Critical Care Unit. This unit is for kids under eighteen who need constant watching after birth or surgery. I was told to wash my hands before I was allowed to enter.

(c) July 2006