Stories of Lost Children
JAEDON- A FIGHTER
by A., Sacramento, CA, U.S.A.
My husband and I were excited that we would be having a baby boy in mid-November. The ultrasound at 20 weeks was normal. We were confident that we would have had a healthy child because both of us are healthy. We are healthcare professionals and we both live healthy lives. Around 30 weeks of gestation, I started to feel tired and my belly felt swollen at times. The OB doctors did not think anything was wrong or offer any ultrasound. We planned to have our child where my big family lives so I could get help. During the first appointment with my new OB, I was that told my belly was larger than expected and an ultrasound was ordered. On the day of the ultrasound, I was shocked to know my baby boy had fluid in his lungs. I was immediately admitted to the hospital. The first surgery was done in which the Doctor went in to withdraw fluid from his chest cavities while he was still inside me. An hour later, he was born by C-section at 34 and a half weeks. He was so beautiful and full of hair. Jaedon was his name. His lungs were immature and the pressure from the fluid caused him to have respiratory distress. Breathing tubes as well as chest tubes to drain the fluid were placed. His condition continued to turn worse so the doctors decided to put him on ECMO, a heart lung machine to hopefully buy some times for his lungs to rest and mature. 9 days later, he was off of the ECMO machine and did well. What still bothered everyone was the fact that the fluid from the chest tubes were still draining a significant amount and all the lab tests came back normal for any viral, blood or chromosomal disorders. Two days later, things turned worse and he was on a roller coaster with the breathing machine. Jaedon was a fighter. He fought hard till the last minutes. He lived for 27 days. He passed away on November first, All Saint's Day, after we were able to hold him for several hours. It was the first time we were able to hold him... those precious moments. It was also the last time. He passed away in the warmth of his daddy's arms and in the presence of many other family members. He passed away with his breathing tubes still attached for four hours after that in his father's arms. He fought for his last breath. We bathed him that night and dressed him. We let him sleep in peace for the first time... no more IV, no more breathing machine, no more chest tubes, no more medicine... We walked with him the last walk to the cold room and kissed him good night. We are proud of him for being such a fighter. We thank God for giving us 27 precious days with him so that we could touch his little hands and feet and talk to him each and everyday. His short life brings many meanings of life to us. He is an Angel now. We will always miss him. We will remember you forever. Mom and Dad love you very much, Jaedon.
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