Love for Baby Lenio

Cerra Carter is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Christen Hillmer.

Donation protected

While Christen & Nick are overjoyed being new parents and beyond grateful for the health of their new baby boy and the amazing medical team that made his transition earthside possible, they are also struggling with the impact of the unexpected costs of this journey; from the ambulance, to the Flight for Life helicopter, to a week of testing in the NICU —

They share, “We are humbly open to receiving financial support to get back on our feet and financially rebalance. Any amount is so appreciated.”

The Story of Micah Jade Lenio’s Birth:

*Pictures Below*

Christen’s water broke at 9:30pm on Saturday, April 8th. Christen had an extremely healthy pregnancy and we had planned for a homebirth with an exceptionally experienced midwife. Labor progressed swiftly and smoothly at home through the night. As we neared birth, our midwife did a manual exam and realized that Micah had flipped and was now coming out breech (bottom first, a position that is an automatic c-section in a hospital)

We quickly called 911. As the ambulance arrived, our midwife assured us that Micah was coming and he would arrive before we arrived at the hospital - but being in the ambulance would put us that much closer to assistance, should we need it. We transferred in a flurry and were out of the house and in the back of the ambulance in seconds. I stood over Christen, held her head, and spoke calmly in her ear as the EMS and our midwife attended to the birth.

Micah Jade Lenio made his entrance to this world in the back of that ambulance as we sped down Highway 133 through the Crystal River Valley sometime around 5:45am on Sunday, April 9th.

They quickly placed Micah on top of Christen and we all began rubbing and patting him. Our midwife and the EMS did not get the breathing that they wanted - so they began CPR on Micah while he lay on Christen’s chest. I watched as our midwife gave chest compressions followed by the EMS giving him respiration with a bag of oxygen. It felt like the whole universe held its breath for just a few moments until I heard someone say two of the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard: “He’s breathing!”. He gained his color and lay peacefully on his momma’s chest as we completed the trip to the hospital.

When we arrived at the hospital, all the medical checks began. Micah was doing great and passed all his checks with flying colors. Then the doctor sat us down to let us know that his blood pH test came back acidic, which is an indication of the body processing carbon dioxide. The concern was that a period without oxygen could have damaged his organs, specifically his brain. Out of caution, they wanted to send him on a helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Denver for active cooling therapy. One of the most difficult moments was when they told us we wouldn’t be allowed on the helicopter. Micah would have to fly in the helicopter while we made the 3.5 hour drive to Denver without him.

We were reunited in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Sunday afternoon. They let us know that he would have to undergo 72 hours of active cooling therapy. During this time, he would lay on a cooling mat in just a diaper while they kept him hypothermic at 92°F. If his brain had sustained any injury, this therapy would lower the risk of seizure and further damage. After 72 hours, he would be rewarmed and then have an MRI scan on his brain to determine if he had sustained any injury. Thus began the longest 3 days of our lives…

On Sunday, they put an EEG scanning apparatus on his head. He had 25+ electrodes all over his head monitoring his brain activity for any abnormality or evidence of seizure. After 24 hours, we got the amazing news that they were going to remove the EEG because they saw ZERO abnormalities or risk of seizure! Over the next few days, we had small win after small win.

Those three days were a difficult blur of conversations, waiting, and trading places at his bedside so that he was never alone. When we were at the hospital in Glenwood Springs, our midwife went back to our house and hurriedly packed a bag for us since we had left the house with nothing. One of the things I asked her to grab was my mini-guitar that I use for camping and travel. Having that little instrument was such a blessing. We played and sang so much while we waited. When I couldn’t sleep as I sat next to him in the middle of the night, we played and sang. When we’d have waves of tears and worry, we played and sang. When we felt waves of hope and trust, we played and sang. Most of all, we played and sang John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy”. We hung on the words of the second verse: “Before you go to sleep, say a little prayer. Every day, in every way, it’s getting better and better…”

Wednesday finally came and it was time to rewarm him. He was gradually rewarmed to a normal, healthy body temperature over a period of 6 hours. After watching our newborn son have to be hypothermic for 72 hours with no blankets or clothes, we loved watching his body temperature grow warmer and warmer. We started a tradition that morning that I hope we continue for a long, long time. We whispered in his ear, “It’s going to be a great day, Micah Jade!”

Thursday came and so did the time for his MRI which would tell us if he sustained any brain damage or injury. Again, “It’s going to be a great day, Micah Jade!”. At 10:30am, he went off for his MRI and mom and dad walked outside the hospital together for the first time since Sunday. That afternoon, the neonatal neurological MRI specialist came to our room to give us the results. Very quickly and matter-of-fact, she let us know that his MRI was completely clear and they saw zero evidence of damage or injury to his brain. She confirmed what we felt and knew - he was a perfect, healthy, brilliant little boy. There are no words for the relief and joy that we felt in that moment.

Fast forward to Saturday, almost a week after Micah jumped into the world. We were discharged that morning and made the sunny, beautiful drive west through the mountains toward home. We arrived home Saturday afternoon to find our beloved home filled with sunshine and the mountains freshly dusted with snow and bluest sky we’ve ever seen. We had ALL been born again and were so in love and ready to start our lives together.