Airin, born 2012

When I was 32 weeks pregnant, I woke up to get ready for my appointment with the OB/GYN for a normal check up. My baby was very active for hours. When it was time to listen to the baby’s heartbeat, the doctor heard something abnormal. I was sent to have an ultrasound and the baby’s heart beat was very slow. They thought that she was going into fetal heart distress so I was quickly rushed to the hospital to have an emergency c-section.

 

I walked in the hospital at 4:20pm, put under, and woke around 5 o’clock to find that my daughter, Airin Michelle was born at 4:39pm and in the NICU. Later, I found out that she had third-degree heart block (broken AV node). Later after that, I was diagnosed with Lupus and they told me that my antibodies attacked her heart.

 

When Airin was born, she was 3lbs 4oz. In three days she dropped down to 2lbs 8oz. Three days after she was born, they were worried about her condition was transferred to Egleston Children’s Hospital. After arriving at the children’s hospital, they spent hours checking her over. We were called in to talk to the cardiologist. We were told that this was going to be a marathon; not only for Airin, but for us and the doctors. They hadn’t seen Airin’s condition before. There was no plan, but to let her grow. We were told by several doctors to prepare ourselves that the simplest things like eating, gaining weight and keeping her heart beat steady would be her hardest task. The overall plan for her was a pacemaker when she hit 4lbs. Well she hit all of her goals. She spent the first two months of her life in the NICU. She had many test done, a couple blood transfusions and lots of meds. At three months old, her liver was enlarged and we were hospitalized for a weekend. She is now four months home and weighting in at 9lb. 3oz. My peanut, my little heart warrior.

 

UPDATE  AUGUST 2012:

 

Airin had a pacemaker put in on the 7th of August. Due to enlarged heart, poor t-waves, and failure to thrive, Airin had a pacemaker placed on August 7th.

 

Story by Airin’s mom, Danyle – Georgia