Isla Mae’s Story

Site created on July 2, 2021

Isla Mae Hope Countryman was born on June 30th, 2021 at 35 weeks old via emergency c-section. She was transported immediately and is currently staying at the Humphrey’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Stormont Vail Hotel in Topeka. (This is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Fort Riley.)

While I was pregnant we went to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for being a high risk pregnancy. We learned that Isla Mae has congenital absent fetal ductus venous. Isla Mae was missing this oxygenated blood vessel her entire time in utero. Because she was missing this blood vessel and came prematurely she still has small holes in her heart that they are monitoring hoping they will close on their own. She also has aortic stenosis. This means her aorta valve has a small, tiny arch and is very narrow. This makes it difficult for her to pump blood properly.

Upon arrival at Humphrey’s NICU, Isla Mae struggled with breathing on her own, eating on her own, jaundice, fluid in her lungs, maintaining her body temperature, and maintaining her heart rate and oxygen levels.

She is currently working on keeping her jaundice down, maintaining her heart rate and oxygen levels, and trying to eat on her own (the hardest step.)

We have no idea how long this stage of her recovery will take us. Her original due date was July 30, 2021. That’s about her anticipated discharge date currently. Upon discharge she will be following closely with a cardiologist.

We love you all. Thank you for your support.

Newest Update

July 14, 2021 Checking Out!

Journal entry by Caroline Countryman —

After 15 days it’s nice to be on the other side of those doors with our baby girl! 🙌🏼☺️🎉 I can’t tell you how much Stetson and I dreaded walking out of those doors everyday empty handed. The exhaustion every time we walked in. I’m glad that feeling is over. 

Isla Mae will be seeing a cardiologist in Kansas City for her follow-up care with a cardiologist, following up with the Topeka Stormont doctor’s and lactation consultation to monitor her weight, and her pediatrician at Fort Riley to make sure she is hitting her milestones. We aren’t done with her journey as a premie and concerns with her heart but we are beyond grateful to get to take her home and close the doors on our time in the NICU. 

Now time to head home and get some rest before Dad gets our other girl from Grandma tomorrow! We’ve missed her like crazy and can’t wait for her to meet Isla Mae. Thank you all!!! 💜

Read More of the journal titled "July 14, 2021 Checking Out!"
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