My name is Darcie Frederick and I am the proud mother of a vasa previa miracle. On June 2, 2005 I went to the hospital for a routine induction. My pregnancy was pretty normal and I had no idea things were going to go so terribly wrong on my baby's birthday. My doctor came in to break my water and got a look of total fear on his face. Without hesitation he grabbed the end of my bed and ran down the hall screaming at nurses to get to the OR stat! He ran over someone's birthing partner who was walking the halls with his wife. My husband struggled to keep up with us. Once in the OR the doctor ripped off my gown, grabbed a knife and started cutting. Just seven minutes had passed since my water had been broke and I delivered a very small, very pale baby with no sign of life what so ever. She had no heart rate, she wasn't breathing.  Things were not looking good. The nurses ran out of the OR with my baby, I had no idea where my husband was, and the doctor asked me to pray with him, to pray that God would be with my child.  I was taken to recovery having no idea what was going on. Within minutes my family came in.  They were crying. The hospital had called and told them to come right away. They didn't know what was going on but assumed the worse. My husband was taken to the NICU to sign paperwork and talk with the doctors.

     Two hours later I was taken in my bed down to see my baby. She was covered in tubes and wires. Machines seemed to crowd her little room making all kinds of beeps and squeals. I was told to speak in a whisper and that I was not to touch my baby. After about 2 minutes we were told to go back to my room and wait..... Wait for what I still don't know. I remember every doctor and nurse that saw us told us to pray. Many of them couldn't keep from crying as they spoke to us. 

     At 3AM the phone in my room rang with orders to get to the NICU right away.....I thought we had lost her.  When we arrived we were greeted by an army of doctors and nurses....they were smiling. My baby had spit the breathing tube out on her own and began taking breaths one after another.  Her oxygen level went right up to 95%. It was her first step in a positive direction. Although everyone was excited about this step, we were warned not to get our hopes up, Baby Lillie had a long was to go if she was going to recover. We were still unsure of whether or not she had any brain damage. Lillie had to have 10 units of blood, 5 units or plasma and had to have fat infusions (still not sure what that was about). Everyday she made a few steps forward. From maintaining her body temp, to her blood stabilizing, breathing on her own, and maintaining her weight; everyday, a new miracle. Lillie was 5 lbs., 7 OZ at birth, she was 18 inches long.  On day 4 I got to go home, but before I left I got to hold my baby for the first time. The next day the tube that drained the blood from her tummy was removed and she was given breast milk...just a half a CC at a time.  Everyday her milk intake was increased. The MRI and CAT scans showed no brain injury.....another miracle. 

     Just 9 days after birth Lillie weighed 5 lbs 8 oz......and we got to bring her home.  Aside from having acid reflux Lillie is just fine. She is right on target developmentally. Lillie will be 5 months old on November 2, 2005. She has tripled her birth weight and grown 6 inches in length. Today her first little tooth come in. I can't help getting tears in my eyes every time I think about how close we came to losing our little angel. Every time I look into my little girls eyes, see her smile, or hear her laugh I know how blessed we are to have her.  And every time I see my OB, he can't help but shed a tear or two. He knows how bad things could have been. Since this has happened he is almost like family, calling to check on her often and getting pictures of her in the mail at least once per month.
 

Thanks Darcie Frederick