Prayers for Kai

Kai weighed 1lb 13.6oz (840 grams). As of today he weighs 3lb 3.9oz (1,470 grams)! Kai is a little miracle who came out of the womb breathing on his own which his parents learned were truly amazing at his age/weight! He was on CPAP and last Friday moved to the nasal cannula but then after five days is back on CPAP. Kai's due date was September 21, 2011 so that is still the estimated date to go home. Please keep this little bundle of joy in your prayers.

Preemie Evelyn

Evelyn who now is one month old almost weighs 3 lbs.  She has just tested possitive for MRSA and had a blood transfusion last night.  This morning she is doing a bit better.  It's a scary rollercoaster road!!  Little Evelyn is in isolation so they don't get the chance to visit with any of the other parents in the NICU.  It's kind of lonely. Please keep them in your prayers. 


-Grandmother of Evelyn

Avery

Avery had the PDA (Patent ductus arteriosus) ligation at 9 days old...she has 2 large ASD's (atrial septal defect). She also has a neurological condition called Dandywalker syndrome. She eats with a feeding tube. She is having open heart surgery on Aug 8, 2011. She was born at 23 weeks 3 days, and has been out of the NICU for 1 year.

A little information for our prayer partners: The ductus arteriosus is a normal fetal blood vessel that closes soon after birth. In a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) the vessel does not close and remains "patent" resulting in irregular transmission of blood between two of the most important arteries close to the heart, the aorta and the pulmonary artery. PDA is common in neonates with persistent respiratory problems such as hypoxia, and has a high occurrence in premature children. In hypoxic newborns, too little oxygen reaches the lungs to produce sufficient levels of bradykinin and subsequent closing of the DA. Premature children are more likely to be hypoxic and thus have PDA because of their underdeveloped heart and lungs. An An ASD is an atrial septal defect, which is a hole in the wall that connects the two upper chambers of the heart. An ASD is caused by incomplete development of the heart.

Dandy-Walker Syndrome is a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum (an area at the back of the brain that controls movement) and the fluid-filled spaces around it. The key features of this syndrome are an enlargement of the fourth ventricle (a small channel that allows fluid to flow freely between the upper and lower areas of the brain and spinal cord), a partial or complete absence of the area of the brain between the two cerebellar hemispheres (cerebellar vermis), and cyst formation near the internal base of the skull. An increase in the size of the fluid spaces surrounding the brain as well as an increase in pressure may also be present.

The syndrome can appear dramatically or develop unnoticed. Symptoms, which often occur in early infancy, include slow motor development and progressive enlargement of the skull. In older children, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as irritability, vomiting, and convulsions, and signs of cerebellar dysfunction such as unsteadiness, lack of muscle coordination, or jerky movements of the eyes may occur. Other symptoms include increased head circumference, bulging at the back of the skull, problems with the nerves that control the eyes, face and neck, and abnormal breathing patterns.

Dandy-Walker Syndrome is frequently associated with disorders of other areas of the central nervous system, including absence of the area made up of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres (corpus callosum) and malformations of the heart, face, limbs, fingers and toes.

Candace

If you could all say some prayers for a micro-preemie mother Candace, she is curently expecting again and having the same issues that progressed with her daughter. Hoping for a healthy mother and healthy baby. Thank you all so much!

Braeton "Bug"

Please pray for Bug, he just under went surgery today and it was by far the worst yet, he is such a little trooper but in so much pain he is inconsolable. He really needs your thoughts and prayers and Gods love to comfort him. Thank you, God Bless.