Rebecca's Tale
Greetings to you all.
Since yesterday's blog entry was all about Xavier's entrance into the world, I thought I would tell Rebecca's side.
Picking up the tale after the insertion of the IV about 4:30 PM, another sterile drip was introduced. The anesthesiologist drew blood, one tube for a blood typing reference and the other vials Gwen, our nurse, thought the doctors would request. Rebecca was told not to eat or drink anything until the doctors got back to her.
As time went on, the pain in Rebecca's belly grew worse; it came in waves with its intensity. After a few hours, Rebecca had withdrawn so deeply within herself, I was unable to draw her out. This greatly concerned me, but so much else was happening I was attributing it to the confluence of all that was happening.
I found Gwen and asked if we could compare Xavier's NST from Friday (the 29 hour one) with his currently running NST. She pulled up the records and we examined the graphs. Truly, Monday's looked so much better than Friday. About 8:00 PM I decided to leave the hospital to go and at least get the trim painted in the nursery. Rebecca was quiet and withdrawn; she had no more sweat outbreaks, just the soreness in her belly which was not getting better. Nothing about Xavier's charts were concerning, and I was thinking Rebecca's stomach problem was some form of colic. She and I even discussed that at one point.
Before leaving, I asked if she would like me to read some Bible stories to her and Xavier. She said she would like that. I chose Elijah, starting from his Mount Carmel encounter with the prophets of Baal. We got up to just before Elijah crossed the Jordan with Elisha when the resident doctor entered the room with a nurse in tow.
This was about 8:30. With a stern air she told us "I think we need to deliver you tonight." After some further discussion, part of which was explaining why we couldn't wait another day, the doctor mentioned Rebecca had reached severe pre-eclampsia.
That stopped me in my tracks. I was dumbfounded at the speed this occurred. I think it also sobered Rebecca, who was already concerned there was something wrong with Xavier. What more could we say? It was like a kick in the gut, and this to Rebecca literally.
Soon, nurses filled the room. Antibiotic drips were added to the IV, a magnesium sulfide drip was added to the IV to help combat the destructive nature of the raising liver enzymes, and a whole host other drugs to prep Rebecca for the c-section. We were visited by two anesthesiologists to explain the procedures, check and double check Rebecca's allergies, previous surgeries, physical responses, etc.
We were scheduled for either the next slot in the OR or the third slot (there was already a c-section going on in the OR). During this time, the pain and discomfort in Rebecca's gut continued to increase; she was in dire pain and growing worse.
Rebecca was wheeled into the OR just before 11:00 PM. I dressed fully into my scrubs and would be allowed in after they prepped Rebecca and created the sterile field. I stood outside the OR door watching through a window. I watched as the anesthesiologist scrubbed and disinfected Rebecca's back and then inserted a needle into a spinal pocket just below mid-back. After several injections through the "tap", the needle was removed and Rebecca was laid down and her tummy scrubbed and disinfected.
About this time a doctor came out and I thought he was inviting me in. He told me it would be another :10 to :15 minutes and I could have a seat "over there." (what he nicely was telling me was to get myself behind the red line until they brought me in). When I was brought in, I sat at Rebecca's head. There was a blue drape drawn across her chest so neither she or I could see the surgery going on. The anesthetic was tested to ensure it took full effect and the doctors went to work.
About ten NICU doctors and nurses waiting for Xavier stood behind the operating table. Behind them a work station prepped to dry Xavier, keep him warm and keep him breathing. Meanwhile, Rebecca nearly fell asleep twice; at one point she could feel the doctors shifting her organs around, but no pain. Behind us stood one of the anesthesiologists. At 11:40, he told me to stand up and watch.
What an awesome sight; my vocabulary is woefully weak and no words I know can express what I witnessed! Watching my son be lifted from Rebecca's womb. I scanned Xavier as fast as I could, checking for his wholeness. Tears of indescribable joy flooded my eyes and wet my beard mask.
Rebecca and I had decided before the surgery that I would follow Xavier into the NICU while she was wheeling into a recovery room. As they brought Xavier through the room, they stopped so mom could see her son for the first time. Xavier opened his eyes for mommy! Rebecca recovered nicely, and quickly, though the mag sulfide still dripping into her veins had her a little loopy. She recovered in time to be rolled into the NICU before Xavier's pod was sealed.
The next morning, the high-risk doctor visited. She praised Rebecca for doing everything right for so long. Xavier is functioning perfectly like a 32 weeker, even though he looks like a 26 weaker. She said we carried the baby up to the last possible moment. We also learned Rebecca's pre-exclampsia was extremely severe, and approached a level called Hellp Syndrome (yes, two els), which is deadly. This is yet another miracle to praise our great God for, that Rebecca was in the hospital. Had she not been there, things may have gone badly and she may not have lived another day.
Rebecca's mag sulfide drip continued through Tuesday to help control her liver enzymes. More blood was drawn for labs, another IV catheter was put in, more blood drawn. Over the next 48 hours her concerning liver enzymes trended down and her kidney's settled down to normal.
Prayers are the conduits of God's power and the tide-changers of history. Thank you all for your labors before Heaven's Throne.