To our family and friends,
I know we’ve been out of touch for awhile, which is why I’m sending this letter, to describe what our family has been through the last three weeks.
We went for a routine prenatal check up on March 23rd 2010.
At the appointment my blood pressure was elevated and I was dilated to 3.5 centimeters and 100 percent effaced. I was sent downstairs for blood work to make sure I didn’t have preeclampsia.
The blood work came back negative and I was given the choice to go home, only to return in a few hours, or electively be admitted in the hospital to have our baby.
I chose to stay. This was approximately 3:30in the afternoon. I decided to have an epidural at 9pm and only dilated to 5cm, the anesthesiologist had a difficult time due to the arthritis in my back, but when she was done I remember telling her that she was my new best friend.
As in my last two deliveries, I was progressing slowly. At 5am the following morning our baby was in distress and her heart rate was decelerating.
They placed an internal monitor on her head and this created fear in Kevin and I.
The panic and silence in the room was overwhelming.
I thought for sure that I’d be heading for a c – section.
Elliana’s heart rate was dropping to sixteen beats per minute during contractions and the contractions were no longer effective, as she was trying to meet her mommy and daddy.
I remember trying not to be scared, thinking positive as my husband has taught me and taking my mind somewhere else, thinking of how blessed Kevin and I are and how we have shared so much together.
Doing this and keeping God close to my side during this time was what helped me to maintain sanity.
Finally, at 6am the doctor told me that I was dilated to 7cm and we needed to get this baby out quickly.
With three pushes our beautiful baby girl was born at 6:15am.
She wasn’t breathing, so they rushed her to the isolate to receive oxygen and ventilator breaths.
Watching this on video camera, there was not a sound in the room, and the urgency to get baby Elliana Marie Thompson to respond to life outside the womb was devastating to bystanders, doctors and nurses.
Elliana means God’s Answered Prayer, and within a few minutes God answered our prayers.
Ellliana Marie was breathing on her own.
Little did we know that there would be more trials around the corner. She couldn’t hold her body temperature and wasn’t responding when her reflexes were tested.
They placed Elliana on me to raise her temperature but this wasn’t working.
A pediatrician was called in to examine her and blood work was drawn and sent to the lab. When the test results came back, they showed that Elliana had elevated CRP which were nearly triple the average numbers and her white blood count was elevated as well, which meant that she had a bacterial infection.
Because the doctors were so concerned about Elliana’s health, they transferred us downstairs to the pediatric department for 7 days and put her on IV therapy antibiotics.
We were told that if we took her home before the week of antibiotics were completed, she would be so ill that there would be nothing they could do by the time we returned to the hospital.
When Kevin and I went home to pack suitcases on March 25th, I vividly remember feeling completely empty inside.
A mother and father are not suppose to leave a hospital without their baby.
I was angry, hurt, frustrated and scared.
I wanted to go home with Elliana, to begin our lives, and introduce her to her beautiful brother, Brock.
Sometimes I believe God allows something to happen in our lives so that it teaches us to have compassion for others in similar situations.
You might be wondering what I mean by this, so let me explain.
My sister and brother have both lost babies at full term.
My heart hurt for them during their time of loss, and though Elliana didn’t die, she was very ill, and I was praying for a miracle.
After experiencing this with our own baby, I felt closeness in my heart for my siblings in a whole new way.
How did they ever make it through such a tragic loss?
They must have felt so empty, angry, and hurt.
I know I have a niece and a nephew who are looking down from above. I believe that they are God’s little helpers and he needed them to help him perform miracles.
Elliana has two angel kiss birth marks. One on her nose, right between her eyes and one on her eyelid. Little angels, God’s helpers kissed and blessed her before she entered this earth.
The Newborn Intensive Care Unit was across the hall from where we were in Pediatrics.
On our third night in the hospital, I was feeding Ellie when there was a code called to NICU to revive a baby.
I began crying and praising God for our miracle. From that moment on I was no longer angry. I was blessed that our baby was nursing, thriving and breathing.
We are now at home with Ellie and she is doing great. Brock is adjusting to his little sister and loves to hold and hug her. Our journey has begun.
No matter what trial we are going through, there’s someone out there experiencing the same kind of thing, or even something more difficult than we’re going through.
Be thankful everyday that you’re breathing, take time to love those around you and know that you are blessed!
I know I sure am blessed, with our own business, beautiful children and a wonderful family and friends.
We have six beautiful children Jerry, Adam, Michaela, Kaitlynn, Brock and Elliana that are loved to the moon and back. They are our legacy! What is your legacy?
Welcome Elliana Marie Thompson – Born March 24, 2010 at 6:15 am – 6lbs 13ozs – 19.5 inches
Thank You to all of our family and friends that have extended their hearts in prayer for our family.
With Warm Wishes,
Kevin, Lisa Brock and Elliana Thompson
