After 6 years of marriage and trying to have a baby we finally got pregnant. We were so excited and made so many plans for our life with our new baby. We had regular monthy doctor visits and everything was going according to plan. In the end of the fifth month I went in for my third ultrasound, and we recieved the exciting news that we were going to have a girl. We had names picked out for either sex, but now we knew what name to go with. We could actually talk about her by name like she was already here, not knowing that 6 days later she would be. It was Monday August 28,2000 about 1:00p.m and something didn't feel quite right. There I was 26weeks pregnant and I started feeling intensive lower back contractions. Not knowing what to do, I called the University of Michigan Hospital and they told me my doctor would call me back. Meanwhile, I turned to one of the many pregnancy books to find some clue on what was happening. During the next two hours as I was waiting for my doctor to call back, and still having contractions I just layed down and tried to relax. The contractions were less predictable as time went on. The doctor finally called back and I told her what the problem was and she told me to get to the hospital now. Jack came home and within 5 minutes later off to the hospital we went. We got to the hospital and they made us wait in the waiting room so they could clear a room. When we got in my doctor examined me and told us I was dialated to 4 centimeters. Scared out of our minds I got into a gown and rushed upstairs to get checked into the hospital. I was hooked up to machines and had steroid shots in each side to help Sierra's lungs develop faster. For two and a half days I was like that with Jack by my side. I was on so many different drugs to help stop the labor and they did seem to be working. Then about 4:30a.m. on Wednesday August 30,2000 I really started having contractions about every 10 minutes. It now seemed that the most unthinkable thing we didn't want to happen was going to, and there was nothing the nurses or doctors could do to help stop it. The doctor examined me and told us we were going to have her and we needed to get to the delivery room now.
We got up to the delivery room then at 12:02p.m. at 26 weeks we had Sierra Rose Mitton. She weighed 1 lb and 7oz and was 12 inches long. She was so small, and so as soon as she came out they rushed her right to the NICU. They put her on a baby warmer, inserted all her tubes, and hooked her up to a ventalator. Meanwhile, they took me to recovery and I was so hungry. I wasn't able to eat the last two days except popsicles and water for the fear I would get sick. As Jack & I sat in recorvery without our baby it felt so lonely, especially when other couples were holding theirs around us. I got moved to a private room and we just layed in bed together trying to take in what we just went through.
Our family and friends came to visit us that night and give us the support that every couple need when going through something like this. When everyone left we went to go see her for the first time. We will never forget that feeling of seeing our first baby for the first time. The love we have for her is like no other love. For the next 17 days it was the hardest time of our lives. About 4 days later we checked out of the hospital and leaving her for the first time was so hard. I cried all the way home and Jack was staying strong for me, but I knew he was hurting just as much. The nurses and doctors told us she would have good and bad days, but nothing could prepare us for the bad days. We were at the hospital day and night and when we weren't we would call the hospital as soon as we woke up each morning, and call right before we went to bed. On the bad days we would stay the night at the hospital in nesting rooms, which were for the families to stay close to their children. For the first week Sierra was progressing very well and things were looking good. We started taking so many pictures and now we are so glad we did. The second week didn't seem to be going as well as the first. We started spending more nights at the hospital then at home that week. Her blood gases were low and they just couldn't find the right setting on her ventalator. Her heart rate would drop and that was so scary. We placed beanie babies and other small stuffed animals that she had recieved from her family. Hoping that they would make her feel comfortable, and in some way it would give us comfort. We placed pictures on the glass of her bed and played music, which she seemed to enjoy. Jack's mom & dad bought her a lamb that plays Jesus Loves Me, she really seemed to enjoy that. She started pulling out her tubes which made it very difficult to keep her readings accurate. They had to give her something to keep her still, and after a day of that she started to get swallon. She couldn't move, so all the medication in her bady would just lay there and it made her look like a little ballon. The third week was the same as the second week. Then on September 14,2000 when we changed her diaper the nurse did discover that Sierra did have a yeast infection from the antibiatics. She told us that the infection could have been what was causing Sierra to have trouble. We then talked to a doctor and she told us that with any infection it could be deadly. Sierra also was starting to show little air bubbles in her lungs on the x-rays that was taken. The air bubbles would make little popping noises when she would breathe. Things weren't looking good, so on that same day we had her bapitised. We thought she was in the God's hands now and it was up to him. Well, we guess he decided on taking her with him because despite all the hospitals efforts she died three days later. Those last three day we read to her from the bible and never left her side. Then on Sunday September 17,2000 around noon we got a call from the hospital telling us we better get there. When we got there they told us it isn't looking good and they are doing all they can. She was the same for about the next 9 hours, and then it was certain it was her time to go. We kept her on the machines for a few more hours while we called our families. We thought our parents and siblings would like to see and hold her before she passed away. After the phone calls Jack & I went to be by Sierra's side and waited for them to arrive. One by one as people said their good-byes you could tell she needed to be let go. When our family was done saying good-bye we took them to the nesting room to wait for us. It was our turn to say our final good-byes and it was the hardest thing to do. We didn't have much time so Jack took her in his arms and held her. He kissed her and told her that he loved her.
Next, it was my turn and all I could do was hold and love on her. That is all I have been wanting to do ever since she came into the world. I told her that I will always love her and that she will always be mommy and daddy's little angel. Then I kissed her and told her it was time to go. The nurse took out all her breathing tubes and let nature take it's course. As she was still in my arms she slowly stopped breathing and then her heart stopped. At 17 days old she died at 11:45p.m. on Sunday September 17,2000. We got to give her a bath and dress her in a white gown. We placed the animals that she loved around her and took pictures. We then went to be with our family and told them she was gone.
The next morning we went to the funeral home to make arrangements. It was a beautiful service and a wonderful way to say good-bye to our angel.
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