Baby Penelope's NICU Stay

Our beautiful Baby Girl, Penelope Louise, was born May 16th, 2022 at 1:43am. We were overjoyed to be new parents to our first child. The first day family came to visit her, and all appeared well. On May 17th, we noticed she had a clock-like tick on the right side of her body. Her right arm and leg moved in a rhythmic motion and her eyes glazed over while her body seized. Our hearts broke when we learned she was to go to the NICU for closer observation because she was demonstrating signs of seizures. It was a nightmare having my baby no longer in the room with me and not knowing what would be her future. Every day she was in the NICU, we stayed with her. We read to her, prayed for her, and spent our every waking moment with her.

After many medical tests, consults, EEGs, and meetings with specialists, it was determined she was having seizures due to oxygen deprivation while in utero. The doctors said there was nothing we could have done differently, and I had done nothing wrong during my pregnancy. It was “just bad luck." The blessing in all of this was that the doctors could provide her with medication to stop the seizures. She will have to continue to meet with medical professionals as she grows and develops to ensure she is progressing “normally." Her EEG determined there was brain damage. However, babies’ brains have plasticity, so we are trying to see the positive that she may have a “normal” outcome and life. So far, she appears to be developing, progressing, and meeting her milestones. If unable to donate, we ask you to share our story and keep her in your thoughts and prayers for continued healthy progress.