Tyler John Austin was born by emergency C-section on August 31, 2001. I was two weeks overdue and had undergone induction procedures when my membranes ruptured, tearing two of Tyler’s umbilical vessels. He was delivered within 10 minutes of the rupture and revived after 15 minutes of intense resuscitation efforts. The postpartum diagnosis was vasa previa with velamentous cord insertion. He spent 14 days in the NICU before coming home with his very thankful and very lucky parents.
I had a completely uneventful (and long) pregnancy. My blood pressure was just slightly elevated during the last three weeks. We went to our childbirth and baby care classes. We packed all of our labor aids. We even made a practice run to the hospital. My due date of August 19^th came and went without any signs of labor. At nearly two weeks overdue, my OB scheduled induction for September 3^rd. After realizing that was Labor Day, his office called to reschedule it a few days earlier (August 30). If I had been waiting around that holiday weekend, I might have gone into labor at home, and this story would most likely have a very different ending. It is interesting that I had none of the risk factors or warning signs for vasa previa. The induction process started the evening of August 30^th. Early the next afternoon, I was still only dilated to 1cm and not feeling any contractions. After spending an uncomfortable night on the “Dad’s bed” (a cushioned bench) in our room, we asked if my husband, Brett, had time to go home for a while. The doctor said to go ahead and if there were any problems he would call right away. Less than two hours after Brett left the hospital, my water broke. I didn't look down. I guess I was worried about getting nauseated right before labor. I excitedly called the nurses’ station. Within a minute, my doctor was in the room. He said I was bleeding a lot more than he would like. He tried to insert a scalp lead twice without success. A nurse used the Doppler to find the baby’s heart rate, which was already down to 40 bpm. I thought it was me who was bleeding, but it didn't hurt. The doctor thought I might have an abruption and called for a crash C-section. (The VP and VCI were discovered after the placenta was delivered). Suddenly the room was full of people. I told him to do whatever he had to in order to save the baby. He called Brett to return as soon possible. He told him that the baby would be born by the time he arrived, so drive safely. When Brett arrived with my mom and sister, he was put alone in a room near the OR. The first time the neonatologist talked to him, she said they were very concerned about the baby. He had many problems caused by hypovolemic shock. They didn’t know exactly how long he was deprived of oxygen. It was too early to say much more. I am thankful that my mother and sister were there to help Brett through everything. I was too drugged to grasp the gravity of Tyler's situation. I asked Brett, “Where's Baby?” He said “with the doctors.” I asked him, “Is Baby OK?” He just looked down and shook his head. Once I was stable and settled into my room, Brett was taken to see the baby. The NICU nurses took a few photos for Brett to show me. Brett’s parents arrived later that evening. Brett’s mom told us later that she was thankful for Tyler’s big feet and ears, which he inherited from her father, Tyler’s great-grandfather, because they made her smile. Tyler spent his first night on a ventilator. Seeing him like that was so hard. He was trying to cry, but no sound came out. Even more difficult was not knowing what was to come over the next few days and feeling helpless about it all. Thankfully, a hospital social worker came to talk to us. She gave us the best advice of all “Just take one day at a time.” Tyler was back on room air on Day 2. He had seizures on Days 1 and 2, which were controlled by Phenobarbital. The doctors were concerned about brain damage and ordered an EEG. The diagnosis was multi-focal seizure disorder. He was weaned off the Phenobarbital before Christmas and hasn’t had any subsequent seizures. His platelet count was very low, so he received transfusions. Right after the transfusion, the levels would go up, but then start declining again. Finally, when he was several days old, his platelet count normalized. His kidneys and liver were functioning poorly at first, so he was fed by IV for the first week. We were finally able to hold him on Day 4. My blood pressure went down about 30 notches and Tyler's oxygen level went straight to 100%. I was looking forward to nursing, so I diligently pumped every three hours. At one week old, he took his first bottle without much difficulty. His suck reflex was fine and he was a champ at eating. He could even burp through his nose without missing a beat. One of the five neonatologists was very pessimistic about Tyler’s condition. The other four were “cautiously optimistic”. To this day, Dr. Negative is not on my list of favorite people. If a little, tiny bit of hope is all new parents have to cling to, don’t take that away. If I hadn’t been so emotionally and physically drained at the time, that guy would have gotten more than just an earful from me. When I was discharged, it was hard to pack up his “going home” outfit, because we didn’t know when we would get to bring him home. The car ride home was sad. But not having to worry about his immediate needs was a mixed blessing. I was in no condition to care for a new baby and I new he was in very capable, caring hands at the NICU. He was so big compared to all of the tiny preemies around him, but so sick too. Tyler didn’t open his eyes until he was about a week old. He constantly gazed upward, like he was trying to see something behind his eyelids. That was extremely worrisome for us. When he was two weeks old, he finally started to focus on other things. Tyler, my sweet, affectionate and sensitive little boy has made a miraculous recovery. From birth, he had extremely poor muscle tone and cortical fisting (he tucked his thumbs under his fingers). He had to wear neoprene splints on his hands for four months. His gross motor skills were delayed, so he received three hours of physical therapy each week. His kidneys have some minor scarring, which continues to be monitored. Everything is working fine. Finally, after two years of hard work (on his part) and worry (on my part), he’s close to where he should be developmentally. He crawled at 13 months and walked at 20 months. He’s into the “typical twos.” (I hate to say terrible twos, because he’s just a normal, feisty, opinionated, easily-frustrated little guy.) His favorite word is “no!” He loves dogs, books, hugs and Bob the Builder. He enjoys going to school (early intervention) for PT, OT and Speech two hours each week. The wonderful teachers there make it fun for him. It gives me peace of mind to know that he is still being monitored by professionals. The past two years have been an adventure full of ups and downs, but we’re hoping for a lot more ups in the coming years! 2006 - Update to Tyler's Story:
Tyler turns FIVE on August 31. He is having a bumper bowling party with his buddies. He has spent the last four years in the district's Pre-Primary Early Intervention program, so he loves going to school. Let's hope that lasts for many more years!
In September, he starts kindergarten. Tyler will continue to receive speech, OT and PT through school. He still loves playing with his train table, and now also enjoys the "Where's Waldo" books, drawing, swimming, and visiting to the zoo (mainly to ride the train), and especially going out for breakfast alone with mom or dad. His favorite phrase is "Five more minutes, OK?" which he says when it's time to leave the house, take a bath, or go to bed, basically any time he's busy and doesn't want to be interrupted. The only specialists he sees currently are an eye doctor (nearsightedness inherited from me) and an allergist (nut and sesame allergies). This kid is doing so well, that no one would ever guess he had a very rough start
2007 - Update to Tyler's Story:
After a year of kindergarten Tyler turns 6 on August 31, 2007. I asked what he wants for a gift. He replies, "Trains." I ask him which trains. He says "All of 'em." At least he knows what he likes. He will repeat kindergarten this year. He's nearly caught up with his peers. He has even been assigned to be a buddy to a younger boy from the early intervention program. Last year was a challenge at times for all of us, but this year should be pretty great. He played tee-ball this summer through the YMCA. His favorite part was getting his very own trophy after the last game. He also spent a lot of time at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Lake Michigan.
2008 - Update to Tyler's Story:
Tyler will be SEVEN this year. He will be in first grade this year, and he loves school. He's in a regular class with special education assistance. He is a patient and loving big brother to Karen, who is four and rambunctious. At the beginning of summer, he was hesitant to jump off the side into the pool at the YMCA. Now he's jumping off the diving board by himself, yelling "cannonbaaaaaaaaaall!" He's graduated from Thomas the Tank Engine to Transformers.