We Believe In Miracles

And here they are!

Roughly three months ago we were told that our daughter Malena would be born with a birth-defect and the chances of survival would be 50%. Today we brought home our little Malena. The Doctors have commented time after time on how they have never seen a CDH baby with so little medical complications. We are definitely blessed. Not much time to post a detailed write-up of the day, I have to go play and enjoy our two little girls. Just know that we would not be enjoying this night together as a family if it weren’t for all of you and your prayers. Thank you all. Good night and look for a detailed post in the future.

Day 27: Malena is eating and ready to come home!

The nurses and doctors have been talking about how sometimes with babies and eating “it just clicks”. This is exactly what happened with Malena this weekend! She just started eating more than her minimum 2 ounces and she began consistently waking up for each feeding. She no longer has her feeding tube in and is doing great!

So this means she will be able to come home soon. The nurses always say that the “broviack” will be the last thing to come out and she will be able to go home. What is a “broviack”? Great question…it is like a direct IV line they put into her veins during her surgery weeks ago. As NICU parents we know all the lingo. Well they took her “broviack” out today!

We are so excited to bring her home. We can’t wait for Zoey to officially meet her. It will be the moment we start to really feel like a family of four. Malena will be 4 weeks on Wednesday. It’s just amazing what she has done since she was born.

The next hurdle is Malena’s first year. All babies are at high risk of getting sick their first year but CDH babies are even more at risk because they do not have two full healthy lungs. Even though Malena looks normal and is breathing room air, any respiratory illness could have a serious impact on her. So for the first year especially during flu season we will have to be careful and keep her isolated so she will not get sick. This will be a challenge more for Matt and I then Malena. We will do anything to do our part since she has fought so hard through her challenges!

There is no way we could have done this without all of your support. Thank you again!

Annabelle

Day 23: Two full feedings in a row

Malena had a great day today! I have been in to the hospital at 8AM and then at 2PM the past two days to help Malena practice eating. They have been feeding her through a tube after trying to feed her from a bottle or after I breastfeed. The reason being is that she only eats half of the amounts she should. This morning was the same story I breastfed Malena and then they fed her through the tube with the remaining amount.

Bu then this afternoon she did something she has never ever done. Two full feedings in a row! I breastfed her at 2 and then tried to give her the rest through the bottle. To my surprise she did a full feeding. Then when I called to check on her after her 5 o’clock feeding she took the same amount from a bottle! Usually she would get a tube feeding between bottle feeds to let her rest. She was so hungry when I saw her at 2PM. I think she is getting the hang of this eating thing! I know that sounds like a small improvement but in the NICU small improvements are huge things!

Malena also reached her birth weight again. She is a few grams over 6lbs 6oz.

We are proud of her…Enjoy some new pictures.

Annabelle