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 NEWBORN CENTER
Delivered at 27 weeks
In late 2000, Angela and
Alan shared special news with family and friends: The couple was
expecting their first child.
“My pregnancy took on a sense of reality when at 19 ½ weeks an
ultrasound revealed I was having a boy,” remembers Angela. “My
husband and I immediately named him Clark. And for the next two
weeks, I fell deeply, magically in love.”
Worry and fear interrupted when Angela was admitted to St.
Luke’s Episcopal Hospital with pre-term labor. In her 22nd week
of pregnancy, Angela’s obstetrician performed emergency surgery
to close her cervix, giving Clark a 50 percent chance of
survival. The procedure worked, and for the next six weeks
Angela remained hospitalized.
A Texas Children’s neonatologist visited Angela and Alan weekly
to explain the survival statistics and complications if Clark
were born that week. At 22 weeks, he would probably die. At 23
weeks, he may survive – though with severe health issues. At 24
weeks, he had up to a 70 percent chance for survival but would
still have major health problems. As Angela progressed to 26
weeks, Texas Children’s specialists became more hopeful.
Clark was born at 27 weeks and 5 days, weighing 2 pounds, 4
ounces. After delivery, doctors whisked him to
Texas Children’s
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Clark was back with
Angela and Alan an hour later, enclosed in an isolette with
wires snaking all over his body.
Clark faced many medical challenges during his six-week stay in
Texas Children’s Level III NICU. He was on a ventilator for five
days and on continuous positive airway pressure for four weeks.
He received two blood transfusions and was treated for neonatal
jaundice, minor brain bleeding, retinopathy of prematurity and a
form of rickets. He survived countless episodes of ceased
breathing.
Clark moved to the Level II nursery at seven weeks and soared.
At eight weeks, Clark went home. Today, he is a happy, healthy
preschooler who is learning to read, loves cars and pretending
to be a superhero.
“We’re thankful for the care our son received at Texas
Children’s during those first weeks of his life,” says Angela.
“It truly allowed him to survive – and thrive.”
Learn more about:
Kids Courageous home |
Newborn Center
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