Ireland was born on 12-15-2007. She has been through a lot in her little life and continues to amaze us with her super hero strength. She is a living example of the power of prayer. God has big plans for this little princess!! Click on the link to see a picture slide show of Ireland's amazing first year!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1210247298600&l=8924377272764880245My name is Ireland Kay Meyer. My Mommy's name is Shanna and my Daddy's name is Sean. I have two big brothers. Deven and Wes. They are my heros!!
This is my story...
I was born on December 15, 2007 at 12:28 pm in Mankato, MN. I weighed 5 pounds 7 ounces and was 19 inches long.
I was sick when I was born so I was airlifted to Children's Hospital in St. Paul. It was there that we found out I have esophageal atresia which means my esophagus doesn't attach all the way to my stomach. I have an atrial septal defect which is a fancy name for a hole in the heart and a bicuspid aortic valve. Neither one of my heart defects are much of an issue right now. I aslo have Down Syndrome.
I was in the NICU for three weeks. While I was there I had surgery to have a G-tube put into my stomach to feed me. I was then sent home to grow and get stronger.
On March 13, 2007 I came back to Children's Hospital to have my esophagus connected. When they did my surgery they found the gap to be much longer than anticipated, but they attached the to ends anyway.
On March 19th I had emergency surgery and they found that the two ends of my esophagus had completely come apart. By this time I was very, very sick.
On Easter my Mommy and Daddy had me transfered to the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital. Come to find out they do a procedure here to lengthen the esophagus.
My situation is difficult now because I don't have much left of my upper esophagus. The plan is to let my upper esophagus heal and to get me home so I can grow and get healthy again.
On October 18th, 2012 I had a successful colon interposition at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. My journey is far from over, but I finally have an esophagus!! We like to call it a colophagus!! : )
If you read my journal we will keep you posted on what I am doing to get strong and healthy so I can go home to be with my family.
Remember to leave me a message in my guest book so I know that you stopped by to see me and catch up on all that is happening to me. And, remember to read all my latest news in my journal and check back often for new pictures of me!
