Burke’s Story

Site created on August 5, 2018

Hello everyone and thank you for all of your prayers, love,  and concern for Burke! His story is a memorable one to say the least.  It all starts on Thursday, July 26, 2018 with a call from Amy's family doctor that they are concerned about the positioning of the stomach and the possibility of a diaphragmatic hernia from her 36th week ultrasound on July 24th, 2018 in which they only wanted to check fluid levels.  On Monday July 30th, 2018 we had a level 2 ultrasound in St cloud in which we found out that burke was missing his entire left half of his diaphragm ( the lining which separates the heart and lungs from the stomach, liver, intestines, etc.) We then went down to meet with doctors and staff at the Mother Baby Center at Childrens hospital in Minneapolis.  After many ultrasounds and tests, we met with Dr lillegard and Dr Fisher who gave us a game plan and what we are up against. It is a severe case in which part of the baby's stomach, intestines and liver are up into the chest cavity.  With all of this coming up through the left side, it pushed his heart all the way to the right side of his chest. At this point, the biggest concern is how much lung was developed on both sides and there was more lung growing on his right side and a small amount on his left side at best.  
  

Newest Update

Journal entry by Jamie Engelmeyer

When we arrive back to see burke this morning we have some really good news! Burke is losing fluid , he lost 13 ounces of fluid weight in 24 hours.  He is also looking much better in his face now as well, and he can open his eyes.  Just a little bit but it is still nice to see.  They are also letting him move a little more to keep loosening up the fluid in his tissues.   The plan is to make sure he keeps peeing this fluid off, as this what he needs most.  The suction tube on the clotted blood is also still working well, getting a bunch of the old clotted blood out of his body.  
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