Debra's story

My wife Debra and I were expecting her first baby (due date 0 1 /05/0 1), I have 2 daughters from a previous marriage (ages 9 & 12).

The beginning of November, my wife was put on bed rest to help keep her blood pressure down, that had always been normal leading up to her pregnancy. She was not happy, but made a commitment to do what was best for our unborn son.

She had been fighting a severe upper respiratory cold for about week leading up to her being put on bed rest. This upper respiratory had become really bad and the OB had told her the most she could take was Tylenol Cough & Cold. Throughout the week she had headaches, nausea, and still elevated blood pressure. By Friday I 1/10 she had enough and asked the OB if she could come in and have her give a once over. Upon arrival and a quick exam, the OB sent her to the hospital for observation. She was told it was just going to be overnight to watch her vitals as the administered some anti-biotic and run some tests. By Saturday morning, I 1/1 1/00, she looked and felt much better.

Saturday at noon they drew more blood to compare to the blood drawn on admission and noticed a drop in blood platelets. A slight drop, but enough to flag for a re-test. During the next 4 hours of waiting for another blood draw, Debra became very hot and drowsy. The results were back around 5:30pm and the next thing we know they are moving us to the birthing suite and her OB was on her way to the hospital after getting the test results.

When her OB showed up, she briefly explained pre-eclampsia and HELLP, and that it was very urgent that she deliver the baby immediately. Because her platelet level was so low (69,000) they could not do an epidural, so general anesthetic would be used.

All this time, I was just thinking that this wasn't happening. At this time, I didn't't know anything about blood platelets or HELLP or Pre-eclampsia. I was just going with the flow....

At 6:30pm they rushed her into the Maternity Operating room and our Son Zachary Ross was born at 6:44pm. I got the news from a voice monitor inside the operating room. He weighed in at 3lbs 8oz and 16-1/4" long. He wasn't breathing on his own, so they tubed him for about 6 hours and then put him on a C-path for a few days. Other than that he was very healthy.

Debra on the other hand was battling for her life, upon the OB making the incision she noticed massive bleeding in the abdominal cavity. She immediately paged for a general surgeon, knowing this was beyond her expertise. The surgeon, who responded, would later be identified as one of the best surgeons in the state and the head surgeon at the hospital.

After delivering the baby safely, (no blood had time to enter the placenta) the surgeon found a spontaneous laceration on Debra's liver along with the largest blood sack (hemotoba) that he had ever seen on a liver. Her body unable to clot because of the low blood platelets, he could only pack her liver and try to stabilize her so a later attempt could be made to repair the damage. During the procedure they put her on a ventilator because of her shallow breathing and weakened state. At this time she had used 5 units of blood. They moved her to the intensive care unit were she would remain for the next 25 days.

The day following the delivery of our baby, Debra went into total renal failure... her kidneys shut down, the ventilator was doing 95% of the breathing for her, & her liver wasn't functioning and they put a wedge in her heart to monitor it's activity. Very overwhelming! She was kept sedated with adavan & a morphine drip. The Kidney specialists didn't give us much hope, and told us it would be weeks or months, if at all that she would regain kidney function... All I could think of doing at this time was to pray. I am not a religious person, but I was pulling out all the stops!

Two days later the same surgeon went back in and removed the packing from her liver and repaired the laceration that had already began to repair itself. Although he said the surgery went well, she had used another 2 units of blood and he told us that given the odds, 90% of people that have multiple organ function as she did do not survive. It seemed as if we were fighting a losing battle, but we were determined to look at the positive IO% and build on that.

The day following the surgery, the Liver Specialist was mystified because her liver function was almost normal. He was ready to sign off at this point. I could only think that it must had been the prayers. So more were in-line..

4 days following the surgery she had made a little Urine, but it didn't come without dialysis that was started the day following her surgery because of the toxins that were accumulating in her blood.

With-in 10 days she had almost normal urine output and was semi-alert. The day following Thanksgiving they removed the tube in her mouth and put in a Tracheotomy. She came out of the procedure a few hours later and was moving her lips with question after question.

At this point, we know we have beaten the odds (thanks to prayer). Over the next several days she overcome pneumonia, infections and was taken off the ventilator. The last 5 days was spent in a step-down unit were they removed her Tracheotomy and had physical therapists helping her to regain her strength.

She was discharged Dec 9th. She still requires a lot of medical and physical care. A nurse comes every day to change dressings and to check vitals.

In one week, she has regained enough strength to eliminate her walker and not require any assistance in getting up or moving around. Although she is very week, she continues to muster up enough energy to help with our precious little Zachary who has been patiently waiting to bond with his mommy.

Zachary came home from the NICU on December 6th. His discharge weight was 4lbs 10oz. His first doctor's appt on December 13th was weighed in at 5lbs 12oz.

We are expecting a complete recovery. The Surgeon, Liver & Kidney specialists, OB / GYN, and all of her caregivers are calling her a miracle. Medically speaking, there is no reason why she is alive today.

Our Christmas was complete with Mom & Baby together at home. Who said prayer doesn't work ???