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After 46 hours of labor Ember Love️🔥❤️ came into this world Tuesday, September 15, early in the morning at 1:24 am weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. We are in LOVE with her already.
Unfortunately, there were unanticipated traumatic complications during delivery--the umbilical cord separated from the placenta, which cut off blood flow to the brain and Ember did not breathe for 8 minutes. 12-15 emergency trauma nurses and doctors worked strenuously to resuscitate her before Matt and Lauren's very eyes, while more nurses worked to stabilize Lauren. Ember was put in a cooling incubator (
https://www.inovachildrens.org/NICU/neonatal-whole-body-cooling) to prevent any possible brain trauma and rushed by ambulance to the NICU at Northside Hospital around 5:30 am (one of the best NICUs in the country). Our sweet Ember is critically stable and breathing on her own (praise the Lord), where she is receiving the best possible care. Lauren is doing well and was discharged the same day of delivery. That evening our immediate family drove Matt and Lauren up to Northside hospital- where they were able to go in and be with Ember for two hours in NCUI and received an initial hopeful report from the Drs and Nurses. We get updates each day and below is her progress.
DAY ONE - Tuesday, September 15:
In addition to continuing to breathe on her own when Matt and Lauren visited Ember she was grasping their fingers, responding to their voices, (even stopped crying when she heard their voices) had no seizures, and had a sucking reflux - ALL ON HER OWN - these are all important and encouraging signs. The Dr indicated that she was showed improvement throughout the first day. For the next 2 days Ember is remaining in a NICU cooling incubator to prevent any more brain trauma. On Friday, the plan is to warm her up slowly - it takes 12 hours. The MRI will be scheduled on Saturday or Sunday. This will be a key step in the neurologist making an assessment on the brain trauma that she has experienced and will determine next steps.
DAY TWO - Wednesday, September 16:
More good news! Matt & Lauren were able to visit the NICU late this afternoon. The nurses said that she is progressing well.
🔥EEG level is good--which means no seizures
🔥They were successful with inserting the PICC line, which is used for long-term IV for antibiotics, nutrition, medication and blood draws.
🔥Embers vital signs are good
🔥Her PH levels are not acidic so no blood transfusion has been necessary
🔥Her muscle tone is good - she is moving her hands to her face, continues to hold and squeeze a finger too
🔥Her kidney functions are good ~ She has a strong cry and her sucking reflex is very good
🔥They are giving her vitamins and electrolytes - she is gaining weight, even a little swollen from all the hydration given to her.
🔥She had her first feeding and Lauren was also able to change a diaper--the first of MANY!
DAY THREE - September 17:
Matt and Lauren visited this afternoon and the neurologist happened to be there and got to hear his report first-hand. He said it was Ember's BEST DAY YET. They got to see him perform all the tests checking her reflexes, swallowing, sucking etc and she ACED it.
Everything is looking normal with brain activity. There has not been anything abnormal that has popped up since she's been in the NICU. This is truly amazing news Thank you Jesus! The Dr. said this is all very promising and expects that the results from Ember's MRI will show that everything is normal. Please keep praying for this outcome. Pray for complete healing and protection of her brain.
They are continuing to feed her through the PICC line and able to use Lauren's milk.
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Tomorrow morning they will start the warming process at 6:45am and it 6-8 hr process and then they will closely monitor her for 6 hrs after that to make sure everything is normal.
We would ask that you specifically pray for continued improvement and healing for Ember and for rest and peace over Matt and Lauren. We need more miracles to keep on coming! God has been working through it all. Below are a few specific prayer requests:
🔥Normalization of her blood and platelet levels
🔥The re-warming process (coming out of the cooling incubator) to go smoothly
🔥Her ability to feed following re-warming
🔥MRI results to be miraculously positive with little or ZERO damage to her brain
Matt and Lauren are so thankful for everyones prayers and the support being given--we are all so grateful. We want Matt and Lauren to be able to completely focus on baby Ember during this very critical time. People have been asking how to support our family during this time, so out of love for Matt and Lauren we have set up a GoFundMe account and Meal Train for our community to come around them with monetary donations to help cover living expenses. You can find both these links at the top under "Ways to Help."
Thank you for praying for Ember and our family🔥 ❤️
When Vance saw this picture he immediately said, "she looks like ...
She's our little fighter girl!
Ember and Elsie holding hands
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