From: Josh & Joia Lucht Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2002 12:10 AM
First of all, excuse the mass e-mail. For some of you, this will contain way too many details, but as I'm still at the hospital, personalized correspondence is a bit difficult now. Josh is taking my notes home and emailing them out.
Thank you all for your e-mails, phone calls and prayers on behalf of Helena Grace. Since she was delivered by C-section on Thursday afternoon, she has done very well.
Helena was only on a ventilator for about 16 hours, more as a precaution than anything else. Since then, she has lain in the nursery with her head under an oxygen hood, which is the equivalent of giving an adult an oxygen mask.
Tonight, (Sat, 8:00pm) Helena was taken out from under the oxygen hood and we got to hold her for the first time. Josh and I each took a turn with Helena, as well as my mother, and we held her up to the window so that Ethan could see his sister.
She will continue to be hooked up to the IV through which she is receiving antibiotics, vitamins, etc. She will also be spending some time receiving 'photo therapy' where she is kept under special lights to help with her very minor jaundiced condition.
I've been using my breast pump to store up the collostrum, (Pre-milk/vitamins provided before the milk comes in.) Tomorrow morning will be her first time to be fed. While it may not be possible for her to take milk orally yet, I will be trying to nurse Helena or bottle feed her using what I've pumped. Babies don't normally develop the swallowing reflex until 32-34 weeks in the pregnancy, so as a 33 week preemie, there is a question as to whether she can swallow at all. If she has trouble, they'll put a feeding tube in her nose or mouth to give Helena the combo breastmilk/formula/vitamins.
It was very emotional tonight for us to be able to finally hold Helena. At only 3 lbs., she barely feels like she's there, but she responds very well to being held close and spoken to.
There is no way of predicting tonight how long until we take Helena home. The goal is for her to be at least 4lbs. upon discharge. One pound doesn't seem like much until you realize it's 1/3 of her weight. Going home without Helena on Monday will be rough. I've heard estimates ranging from two to six weeks for her dismissal.
We are overwhelmingly grateful to God for saving Helena's life. The gravity of the situation is only now beginning to sink in. Just prior to the c-section, I asked my Dr. what would happen if I just went home and came back in a couple of weeks. "You'd both die," she told me. My preeclampsia condition was as serious as it could get. I almost didn't bother calling my OB about the swelling. Had I waited for my next appointment, we would've lost Helena for sure, and I may have lost my own life as well.
It's hard to anticipate one's needs in the coming weeks. I'm expecting a lot of cab rides between the hospital and our apartment. I don't know if I'll just be pumping milk to bring to the hospital or if I'll be camping out here and nursing her during the day. In addition to that, we'll be juggling Ethan's school schedule and Josh's work schedule. So pray that we can keep out details ironed out while remaining able to focus on the miracle of Helena's birth. Pray also that I'll continue to recover from this c-section as rapidly as I am so that I can better handle the schedule.
Thanks again for your expression of love and concern.
Love,
Joia, Josh, Ethan and Helena
