Primary Children’s 12 Days of Miracles: Day 5
Little Madison Louise is a bundle of miracles. As a first time mom, Margaret had no idea what the contractions she felt meant. By the time she realized she was actually in labor, it was too late to stop. Maddie, as her parents call her, was born February 1, 2012 at 24 weeks. She only weighed 1 pound 8 ounces and was 12 inches long. She was immediately moved from Brigham City to Ogden Regional’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The first miracle is that Maddie has avoided a brain bleed, a very common complication in premature infants. She was making great progress, but in June, Maddie developed pulmonary hypertension, another frequent result of pre-term birth. Maddie was quickly transferred to Primary Children’s NICU. Upon admittance, she also tested positive for rhinovirus. Because of the severe respiratory stresses and surgery for PDA (a heart problem where a duct doesn’t close) little Maddie Lou’s condition went back to square one.
While at Primary Children’s, Maddie has been poked, prodded, ventilated, braced, and has gone through more procedures than any small baby should ever have to experience. She has to breathe through a trach because of extra tissue in her throat caused by the life-saving steroids. Maddie has been NG fed (through her nose) since birth and will never be able to use a bottle. Eventually, she will be able to eat normally, but it will take a lot of therapy and practice. Because of the trach, she is not able to make the normal cooing, babbling sounds that are music to a mother’s ear.
However, she is able to smile - a lot.
“That’s the biggest miracle” Margaret said. In spite of everything Madison has been through, she is able to find joy. She smiles and her beautiful eyes light up. Once when the trach started to whistle Maddie smiled and even laughed at the noises she was making. Margaret and Tony spend every minute they can with their baby and the smiles they receive are better than gold.
On the 20th of December, Maddie will have another surgery to close a small hole in her heart. But things are looking up. In spite of being on oxygen, Maddie‘s vision is good, and her oxygen needs have gone down. Best of all: her rhinovirus count has been negative for more than a week after two months of positive results.
Margaret said they hope to be able to take Madison home by her 1st birthday in February. But she and Tony have learned not to count on dates.
“In the NICU things can change so quickly,” Margaret says.
Maddie Lou has a long way to go still, but each day brings new blessings and miracles. She truly is a gift to those who know and love her.
