The odds weren’t good for Faith Theresa Morales at 1 pound 11 ounces but she had a strong spirit and Faith believes that all things can be
It was not easy for me to get pregnant I had two miscarriages prior and it took me a year to get pregnant. I was having a good pregnancy with no complications my checkups during the pregnancy were all normal. I had several ultrasounds and found out I was carrying a healthy girl, my husband and I were thrilled but we were not prepared for the premature birth of our daughter.
Without warning 16 weeks before my due date labor contractions began, I was 23 weeks pregnant and on my way to the hospital. My obstetrician told me that I was having premature contractions and they were going to try and stop them. I was hospitalized put on bed rest given medications to delay the delivery and steroids to help develop the baby's lungs. The doctor’s wanted to stop the contractions because the baby was not fully developed and shouldn't be born yet. For one week I continued having contractions, the IV's and medications were no longer working.
On Monday morning I started to dilate at 24 weeks how could this be happening to me the only thing racing through my mind was the doctor’s saying it was unlikely that a baby born before 27 weeks gestation could survive. I wanted to CRY I felt helpless we wanted desperately to have this baby and now we were being told her chances of survival were small. A couple of hours later Faith Theresa was born at 1 pound 11 ounces, Faith was immediately brought to the NICU, my husband and I had to prepare for the worst.
The doctor’s told us the first 24-48 hours were critical, when we entered the NICU hours later we were shocked but happy to see that Faith was alive. It was very hard but we had to be optimistic. Faith was in an incubator with many wires, tubes, monitors, and a respirator attached to her, it was very difficult to look at her so small with all this equipment attached to her but crucial for her survival. A couple of days later she developed jaundice and was placed under bililights, she eventually needed a blood transfusion and had to undergo cryosurgery. Faith was on a respirator and was fed through an umbilical catheter, a monitor kept track of her body temp, oxygen levels, and heart rate. The nurses, doctors, and respiratory specialist’s were terrific explaining everything step by step day by day. The staff let us visit all the time and made us feel very welcomed they were a huge part of our support system along with our families…
We went to the hospital every day several times a day to meet with her doctor’s and nurses to discuss her prognosis. We couldn't hold Faith but we touched her softly through the porthole and that was a god sent. Every so often Faith would show little signs of progress and then have a minor set back the NICU staff assured us that that was all normal for premature babies.
I will never forget the first time we were able to hold and dress Faith it was Thanksgiving day. We held her dressed her up and the nurse asked for my engagement ring, she then slipped it on Faith’s wrist like a bracelet that truly put it in perspective as to how small Faith was.
Every day was an experience for Faith as well as her doctor’s and nurses, they would conquer any obstacle thrown there way. Signs of improvement came slow but steady little by little she would gain weight and become stronger. Faith had her 1st bottle Christmas day what a true gift for us. I remember other babies would be released from the NICU and I’d say to myself is our day ever going to come but 99 day’s-4 months later and her eye surgery behind her our day had finally come FAITH was going home…..
We learned so much about the care Faith needed from the staff by the time we went home we felt like professionals. At five pounds two ounces Faith was coming home, she was released with a nasal cannula, apnea monitor and needed two respiratory treatments a day. All has since been discontinued and she goes for physical therapy once a week for stretching exercises. Faith’s vision is 100% and she shows no sign of learning disabilities or long term health complications at this time. Faith believes that all things can be….It’s sure of what it hopes for and certain of what it can’t see. “I’ve always believed in God, but my Faith is much stronger now.”
Want another great preemie story? Hey, read Sierra's latest update and see her pictures.
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