Heath is from Jefferson City. He will be 2 on March 7th.
Diagnosis: Micro Preemie
My pregnancy was not what you would consider a normal pregnancy. We found out on October 7 that we were pregnant, and we were so excited that we told our families on October 8. Our little champion wasn’t due until June 4th, but the bliss of my first pregnancy didn’t last because on November 28th, I ended up in the emergency room in Jeff City with complications. They told me everything was fine, and sometimes things just happen. Every month, starting that day, I had visited the doctor due to complications, and it got scarier and scarier, not understanding what was going on. All this time, deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. On February 28, we found out he had low fluid, and they were sending us to MU where the miracles happened. There were so many thoughts running through our brains. They held me overnight for observation and ran every test possible. They sent me home hopeful, but once again, short lived.
On March 2nd, I started having pain in my stomach along with other complications. We went back to MU and our little champion was born on March 7th at 1:57 am. He was born in the sac due to a placenta abruption. The doctors said that only happens once a year at MU, and they like to say “hatched since he technically was in an “egg” unharmed from the trauma of being born. He had such a great start into this amazing world. The doctors were very “impressed” by how well he had been doing. Our time in the NICU was filled with so much joy and laughter with the amazing nurses and doctors. There were also many times when we were terrified of what was going to happen. It is true when they say it is a roller coaster, so many ups and downs, and lessons learned.
Heath spent 95 days in the old Women’s and Children’s Hospital. What’s crazy is we got told in our monthly meeting with Dr. Vacheriny that Health would be moving the first day over to the new Children’s Hospital when the big change came. But the next day, he called and told me the absolute best news that Heath had a major breakthrough, and we were going to take him home sooner than anticipated. We took Heath home the day of the BIG MOVE to the new Children’s Hospital. We were one of the last patients to stay overnight in the NICU, which was pretty awesome! Our time there could have been much different if it weren’t for the nurses, doctors, and everyone who helped our sweet boy graduate from the NICU happy and healthy!! Both in Labor and Delivery and NICU, I still talk to some of the nurses today, as we have grown to be such close friends!! From the bottom of my heart, Thank you!
His parents are Paige and Blaine Meyer.