Thursday, February 28, 2013

March for Babies - We need your help!

I haven't written in quite some time. Needless to say, I've had my hands quite full! We've faced several obstacles in the past few months but we got passed them and are doing very well. I'll write a quick update below but the main purpose for me writing this post is because I want to ask you guys for help.

When I first was emitted in the hospital after my water ruptured, I was scared. I was scared, worried, emotional, nervous, you name it, I felt it. I wanted answers. I wanted to comfort myself by finding factual information, inspiring personal accounts, and just hope. But I was afraid to look online because you can find some horror stories and worse case scenarios and I just wasn't ready to face another person's pain and grief before I could handle my own. But I needed to know. I needed to learn about how common prematurity is, I needed to learn about what I could be facing without all the pain attached to it. I needed to know what programs, therapists and specialist were available to help us. I just needed to know that we weren't alone in this terrible situation and there was hope and support there for us. So, the first organization I turned to was the March of Dimes.

The March of Dimes does so much for prematurity as a whole. They conduct research to create better technology that helps these miracle babies progress. They fund classes and programs that help bring awareness to prematurity and how to prevent it. They help families cope and deal with what they have been dealt with. Their campaign has a powerful impact on bringing prematurity awareness to the forefront so that people know that they are not alone. They are doing everything they can to lower the numbers and hopefully one day prevent it all together.

I can't express how thankful I am to each and every one of you who followed and supported Blake's progress. It means the absolute world to me knowing that he has so many amazing people who love him and are rooting for him. Many of you have asked me how you could help, so here is your chance.

We are setting  up a team to walk and raise money for the March for Babies walk in April. We are aiming to raise 1000 dollars that will be donated to the March of Dimes Foundation in hopes that they will continue to help other preemie families just as they have helped mine. We are walking in honor of Blake and all he has been through. If you want to join our team, we would love if you walked beside us! If you are unable to attend the walk, please help by donating and helping us reach our goal.

To join "Team Baby Blake" or donate to our cause (or both), please go to the following link.

http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?intnav=MFB_PRV_HDR_PRPGS&si=831ACD5C-4989-4CD8-BA77-2B10546C4E97&prefill=

Every penny counts and it is an amazing cause! Blake is the strongest little guy I know. He has been through so much in his short life and he is a proven real-life miracle. But we have all your support to thank for that. So help us support all the other babies needing a prayer, needing love and support. Help us show their families that they aren't alone.


As far as an update goes "m going to sum it up quickly. Blake is doing wonderful. However in January, we noticed his head was a bit larger than it should be. In fact, it grew three inches in just one month. His eyes also were darting down and he couldn't look up. After a doctor's visit and a referral to see the neurosurgeon, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus which is the build up of fluid in his brain. He was taken in for surgery the very next day where they performed a procedure called and endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Meaning they drilled a hole through his skull, drilled a hole through the blocked passage, opened it up and sewed him back up. It was a very quick procedure with a 50/50 chance of being either successful or failing. So far, the ETV seems to be holding up and doing its job. We go back in a month or so for a MRI to double check and make sure the passage is still open.

He also was diagnosed with having a tongue tie. But that was corrected just this last Tuesday and he has been doing really well since!

I'm sorry the update was really short, like I said, my hands have been extremely full and I have been on the go non stop with the kids and appointments. And speaking of kids, Blake is waking up and I need to go make a bottle! Thank you guys again and I hope to see you at the walk!