preemie-l Karen, mother of Courtney 3 1/2 and Aubrey 18 mo (30 week)

Karen A. Stanlaw (stanlaka@ttown.apci.com)
Mon, 17 Jun 1996 12:03:52 -0400 (EDT)


Hi, 
	I am new to the group and would like to introduce my family.  I 
am Karen, husband Jeff, daughter Courtney 3 1/2 and Aubrey 18 mo, 30 
weeker.  Her due date was Feb 6, 1995, however, quite to my suprise was 
born Nov 30, 1994.  She weighed in at 2 lb 5 oz.  She had an approx 3" 
diamater black and blue mark on the top right of her head, and her nose 
was pushed to the left side.  She was given 2 doses of surfactant 
and intebated immediately after birth. She went through the honeymoon stage 
for the first week.  She was off the 
oxygen and started on feedings.  The following thursday was the start of 
the every thrusday set-backs.  Her first major setback they thought was 
an infection, and was re-intebated and put on antibiotics.  After about 6 
days they started feeding her again.  That thursday she had her second 
setback.  At that point they thought it was a metabolic problem, since 
each setback occured shortly after feedings were started.  Aubrey was 
sent from Temple NICU in Philadelphia, PA to St Christophers Hospital 
NICU, also in Phia, PA.  The diagnosed her with having a fungal 
infection.  It took her several weeks to recover from the infection.  She 
had been on oxygen for approx 5 weeks and was doing quite well and was 
moved to the step down section on the NICU which is for babies not 
requiring intensive care.  While back there she suffered a apnea and 
bradycardia incident and needed to be recessitated.  Again this occured 
on a thursday.  She remained in the hospital for 65 days and was released 
weighing 4 lb 4 oz.  We were quite fortunate to leave St Chris without 
any monitors or medication requirements.

	Aubrey Leigh is now 18 mo(adjusted age 16 mo) and is doing quite 
well.  She is not speaking any real words at this time, and at her next 
check-up in August I will as the doctors at the follow up clinic if this 
is a potential problem.  

	I am glad that this group is around, especially for those 
currently going through what most of us have already expierenced.

Karen A. Stanlaw
Mother of Courtney age 3 1/2 and Aubrey Leigh 18 mo(30 week)

This is strictly my own opinion, not that of Air Porducts