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| Kylie on delivery day - |
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| The anticipating parents having lunch - Kylie's was ice chips. |
This was not going according to Kylie's plan. She had decided that she wanted her last baby to be a 'natural' delivery - no meds - no being induced - no anything artificial.. Oh, AND she wanted to have the baby before her due date, because her OBGYN would be going out of town on her due date.
All doctor appointments leading up to due date had Kylie only progressing slowly - gradually - not rushed. Kylie tried everything - acupuncture, massages, long walks, spicy foods; anything she could to get this baby here on it's own and early. But then her doctor tells Kylie she's now going to be gone the Saturday before due date and so to come in and start things on Friday at the hospital.
Kylie was still sticking to her plan - they started her on pitocin for only a jump start - she was having some contractions, but doctor could not feel baby's head when she went to check Kylie, so doctor ordered an ultra sound. It showed that baby was still high and in a position that doctor felt she couldn't break Kylie's water and needed to have baby drop before she could. The ultrasound also showed that the umbilical cord was also in the way and that if it dropped before the baby's head did, it would cause an emergency c-section situation. Kylie had been adamant that there would be no c-section if she could help it. So, the wait began for the contractions to encourage the baby to drop into position.
About an hour later, doctor came in to check Kylie. That's when all hell broke loose. Yes, baby had dropped down but the ultrasound showed that the umbilical cord was there too - and according to doctor, Baby's head was laying right on top of the cord, cutting off the oxygen supply to the baby. Exactly what Kylie did NOT want to happen, was happening right before her eyes. Del, me and April, Kylie's friend, were asked to leave the room.
Apparently, at this point, the doctor has her hand in Kylie and is holding the baby's head up off the cord while the rush Kylie to the operating room to do an emergency c-section. Because Kylie has to be put to sleep, Mike is not allowed in the room to watch the birth. The c-section takes about 5 minutes, mostly because they give Kylie NO anesthesia to numb her, they just cut her open and remove the baby...Lucy Beth Crump is born.
By this time, I insist on going back to Kylie's room, where we find Mike sitting in there alone, having just been told by a nurse that Lucy is born and there are some complications and concerns. He's got a blank stare on his face and I can tell he's been crying. I hugged him. Few minutes later, a doctor comes in. Not Kylie's doctor, but a neurologist - saying he has been with Lucy and there is a very strong possibility that she will have some brain damage due to lack of oxygen, but they will not know to what degree until they get her to a Dallas hospital where they will do a special 72 hour treatment called 'Cooling' . He tries to explain the procedure, but my brain turned off at the mention of brain damage and Lucy being taken to another hospital.
It's at that point that my mind goes back to 33 years ago. Del and I exchange glances and we can read each others thoughts - we're both remembering Michael's birth. But we both understood to not make this about us...but about Mike and Kylie. Kylie was in recovery - Del and Mike went to her to let her know what was happening. The ambulance was on it's way from Dallas to transport Lucy, and they took Lucy in to see Kylie before she had to leave - Kylie couldn't even reach Lucy to touch her or really see her before Lucy was swept off to leave. My heart broke for her as I knew her exact feelings. Del and Mike went down to Dallas with Lucy and I stayed with Kylie, remembering how it felt to know I had just had a baby, but I had no baby, I had no husband and I had no family. I wasn't going to leave Kylie to feel the same.
Now, during all this time, there are back stories to be told because there are miracles happening. Del and Mike had attempted to give Lucy a blessing but had been made to stop when they took Lucy from them because she was 'crashing' - Back in the NICU, there is a specialty nurse that gets called in to do some procedures on Lucy that later, when she relays this story to all of us, she shares that some things were done because of divine intervention and promptings.
Kylie is in pain and on a morphine drip. She is put in a room where she starts getting updates from Mike and Del about Lucy. There are a few pictures taken and sent to Kylie so she can see her baby.
The 72 hours were touch and go. Kylie was released from the hospital on Monday and immediately went down to Lucy to be with her. That week was long - the cooling procedure was 100% successful, and days later, she was pronounced clear. No brain damage, no problems...completely perfect.
Of course, I just summed up about 50 miracles in a few sentences instead of taking three days to express every emotion and miracle that happened. I just can't do it all. I would never be able to give it justice. But miracles happened...and lives, many many lives were touched by those miracles. There were hundreds of people praying for our sweet Lucy, especially from our ward. The Primary children had been asked to pray for 'the Bishop's grandbaby Lucy', and days later, I received SEVERAL texts and messages from mothers in the ward who would share stories of prayers being offered for Lucy from their children. Every prayer from our ward members included Lucy.
By Saturday, Mike and Kylie finally got the okay to bring Lucy home. She had been pronounced a miracle from the doctors and the nurses. It was an exciting day
Preston and Madi were thrilled beyond words. They had waited for over a week to meet their new sister. It was a beautiful family moment. And now, 4 weeks later this Friday, life is perfect. Lucy is thriving - the family is together and happy. All of us recognize the blessings and miracles that have happened. We are changed people from this experience. We are different - forever different.
The 72 hours were touch and go. Kylie was released from the hospital on Monday and immediately went down to Lucy to be with her. That week was long - the cooling procedure was 100% successful, and days later, she was pronounced clear. No brain damage, no problems...completely perfect.
Of course, I just summed up about 50 miracles in a few sentences instead of taking three days to express every emotion and miracle that happened. I just can't do it all. I would never be able to give it justice. But miracles happened...and lives, many many lives were touched by those miracles. There were hundreds of people praying for our sweet Lucy, especially from our ward. The Primary children had been asked to pray for 'the Bishop's grandbaby Lucy', and days later, I received SEVERAL texts and messages from mothers in the ward who would share stories of prayers being offered for Lucy from their children. Every prayer from our ward members included Lucy.
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| First picture taken with all tubes removed. |
This is our sweet Lucy.
Born 9-11-15
weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces
21.5 inches long
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