I am not quite sure where to begin, so I will begin at the beginning.  Lexie was born via emergency c-section September 20, 2004.  She suffered multiple organ failure and bleeding in the brain due to a ruptured placenta, which caused a lack of oxygen and blood loss at birth.  After 4  weeks in the NICU, the neonatalogist called a team meeting, where we were advised to take Lexie home on hospice.  The specialists did not believe Lexie’s kidneys or liver would ever recover.  They talked of brain damage, Cerebral Palsy and a lifetime of seizures. They said she would likely never walk, talk, see, or hear.  I cannot even begin to describe the pain and anguish we felt as this news was delivered.  Lexie was our first born child, and nothing in our birthing classes had prepared us for this.

Against the recommendations of the entire medical team, my husband and I decided that we had seen enough progress to keep fighting for Lexie’s life.  After being assured that the prognosis did not equate to a lifetime of pain or suffering for Lexie, we decided that I would give up plans to return to work so I could care for Lexie full time.  We proceeded with a surgical intervention to begin kidney dialysis.  We spent another month in the hospital, while Lexie’s kidneys and liver improved.  Lexie was taken off kidney dialysis after 4 short days.  She passed her hearing test shortly before we took her home from the hospital. Lexie’s nurses trained us how to give shots, administer oral medications, and operate medical equipment. Lexie went home on a feeding tube, respiration and heart monitor, and fourteen medications.  We had five to seven medical appointments each week with different specialists and therapists.

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