Brie Morgan Bauer & Baby Beau

Brie Morgan Bauer & Beau Thomas Bauer

On February 17th, Brie and Reid welcomed their third baby boy, Beau, into the world via emergency C-section at 27 weeks.

Brie was not feeling great earlier in the day and went to get checked out at urgent care. An ultrasound was performed where the doctor was able to see that Brie was having contractions, during which baby’s heart rate was dropping. Brie was sent for an emergency c-section. The family thought Brie was suffering from a placenta abruption but quickly learned that she was septic due to strep bacteria. The strep concentrated in her uterus, causing it to die and the placenta began detaching.

The rapid response team was present in the OR but had been called there for baby Bauer. While they were in the room, Brie’s breathing tube was pulled out and she began hemorrhaging and declining quickly. The rapid response team jumped into action and got the breathing tube back in immediately and ensured she never went without oxygen.

The doctors placed Brie in a medically induced coma and began dialysis as her kidneys were shutting down. Brie’s lactic acid levels were extremely high, causing stress on her kidneys and her blood was not clotting. The next several hours were a rollercoaster of medical ups and downs. Brie was placed on a ventilator and the doctors determined Brie needed surgery for the best chance of survival. Brie’s uterus was removed as well as part of her bowel during surgery.

Brie is a fighter and made it through surgery but still has a tough road ahead. She was on maximum support and several medications that were taking their toll on her body. Brie underwent a second surgery to have an ostomy placed in the hopes that down the road, they will reverse it and repair her bowels. Surgery went as expected and Brie showed she is not giving up!

As Brie’s body has gone to war to fight this infection, her body was prioritizing her vital organs. Her extremities were not receiving the circulation they needed and talk began of possible amputations. Information was coming in waves, some good, some not so good.

The doctors began lowering Brie’s paralytics in order to run more tests to get a clearer picture of Brie’s brain function. Just over an hour after her paralytics had been stopped, Brie’s eyelids began to flutter. Reid rushed to her side to tell her their baby was safe, beautiful and looked just like her. Brie fought hard to open her eyes. This glimmer proved that Brie knows her family is with her and she can hear them rooting her on. Her brother John later told her a joke and the side of her mouth ticked up as she was smiling! Brie has been trying to talk through her vent and cried out in pain during a dressing change. She is with us and letting us know!

Brie’s lactic acid levels continue to trend down but she is still having issues with her blood not being in harmony. She was strong enough to pause her dialysis in order to get a CT scan. The doctors wanted to get a better picture of where possible blood clots may be and how the circulation is to her extremities. The results were indicative of what doctors had thought regarding circulation and Brie’s hands and lower legs (past mid-thigh) were not receiving any blood flow.

Amputation is inevitable for Brie, but those decisions do not have to be made quickly. The doctors would like to give her body more time to heal and evaluate again.

The family and I are praying for a miracle that somehow the circulation can improve, resulting in less amputation.

Baby Beau has had a blood transfusion and been intubated. All of this seems par for the course for a sweet little 27 weeker. He will have an MRI on Saturday, February 24th. Nurses say he is feisty and a fighter!

Family and friends have stepped up to help care for Brooks (4) and Barrett (2) and try to provide as much normalcy as possible. The boys are eager to meet baby brother and be reunited as a family of 5!

Please consider donating to help aid in the Bauer’s medical expenses. Brie and Beau both have a long road ahead of them, and lessening this burden will relieve a minut amount of stress.

I will update as I receive information. Prayers for Brie and Beau that they may continue to improve and are able to reconnect soon.