Support Jessica and Joel
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This story I'd like to share started when Joel, Jessica and Jarrett announced that the family was expecting twin boys in May!! Everyone was so excited and couldn't wait to watch the family grow by 2!
Here is where the story continues: On January 7th, Jessica was put on bed rest, and could no longer work. After a few weeks, on Friday, February 5th at 11:00pm, Jessica's water broke with Joel, Jr. and she was admitted immediately to the hospital into Labor and Delivery. The plan was to stay in the hospital for as many weeks as she could to keep the babies in as long as possible. The doctors tried everything in their power: medication, positioning, everything. All while trying to keep the babies safe, Jessica's body was not responding well and she ended up in a-fib with a pulmonary edema, which is a serious heart condition with an irregular heartbeat. It seemed like every doctor from every department was on Jessica's case and everything went exactly the opposite as they had hoped. At one point a cardio version was being considered, and shock paddles have never been used in this manner in history on a pregnant woman of twins in that hospital. Thankfully after days of trying medication after medication, and stress to her and the babies, she began to show slight signs of improved heart rate, but was in a great deal of pain from IV's to contractions to a pounding heart and a worried mind for her little guys everyone was trying to keep safe.
While the cardiologists were working to figure out what to do to try and keep her heart calm, the OB doctor came in and checked to see if she was in labor. She had actually dilated to 10 and had an emergency C-section, as natural delivery would have been too traumatic for the babies. During surgery, Jessica converted back into a-fib, and her health was again a major issue. On that Tuesday morning February 9th at just 27 weeks and 3 days pregnant, Joel Dale Fahnhorst, Jr. and John William were born at 10:55 and 10:56am. Jessica went straight to the Cardiac Monitoring Unit and the babies to the NICU. Given her condition, Jessica couldn't meet her babies the first two days of their lives, which goes without saying, was very very hard.
The first days of Joel Jr. and John William's lives were very difficult for everyone. Ventilators, tests, tears, and so many unanswered questions. They were, and still are, in incubators hooked up to every machine possible monitoring their teeny tiny bodies. Since then there has been some progress, however, none of which has these babies, their parents and big brother living at home as a family anytime soon. Their lives will be in and out of the hospital lobby and waiting rooms as these little guys start their NICU journey that will last until what their due date was expected to be-May. As though all this isn't hard enough to swallow, Jessica was discharged from the hospital on February 14th. Unfortunately, the board rooms at the hospital are all full right now, so Jessica and Joel have no where to call "home" nor rest for a moment during the long days of doctor rounds, feedings through the twins lines that go from a syringe straight to their tiny tummies, and pumping breastmilk. Until Jessica recovers from surgery and can drive herself, she gets picked up by her Mom or Dad in the morning around 6:00am to be sure to get to the 1st doctor rounds in the NICU to hear about the recap of the twins last 24 hours. From there, she spends her days in and out of the NICU until Joel gets off work (yes, he went back to work 2 days after the babies arrived), and he drives out to the hospital to see Joel, Jr. and John William, and then takes Jessica home between 10:00 and 11:00pm. With all this, there is Joel's son Jarrett-the sweetest most wonderful and proud big brother. His life has been turned upside down to say the least, and while he is very worried about the babies, it seems he understands they are in great care, but his big question is, "When is Jess coming back home?". Heart breaking and understandable. The next few months will be an adjustment for sure, but no doubt these Fahnhorsts are an amazing breed and will make it through!
Given these circumstances, you can only imagine the financial hardships that go along with such a story. That is why our families wanted to create an outlet for support and updates for everyone who cares for and wants to follow Joel, Jessica, Jarrett, Joel Dale Jr., and John William's story. The outpour of support and love for this family has been amazing to say the least, and still, everyone asks how they can help beyond sending their love and prayers-so this page has been created.
Thank you to everyone for all the love you have shown for this family. I will be updating you all regularly on the family's progress on this journey.
xoxo,
Nicole Kopp
Here is where the story continues: On January 7th, Jessica was put on bed rest, and could no longer work. After a few weeks, on Friday, February 5th at 11:00pm, Jessica's water broke with Joel, Jr. and she was admitted immediately to the hospital into Labor and Delivery. The plan was to stay in the hospital for as many weeks as she could to keep the babies in as long as possible. The doctors tried everything in their power: medication, positioning, everything. All while trying to keep the babies safe, Jessica's body was not responding well and she ended up in a-fib with a pulmonary edema, which is a serious heart condition with an irregular heartbeat. It seemed like every doctor from every department was on Jessica's case and everything went exactly the opposite as they had hoped. At one point a cardio version was being considered, and shock paddles have never been used in this manner in history on a pregnant woman of twins in that hospital. Thankfully after days of trying medication after medication, and stress to her and the babies, she began to show slight signs of improved heart rate, but was in a great deal of pain from IV's to contractions to a pounding heart and a worried mind for her little guys everyone was trying to keep safe.
While the cardiologists were working to figure out what to do to try and keep her heart calm, the OB doctor came in and checked to see if she was in labor. She had actually dilated to 10 and had an emergency C-section, as natural delivery would have been too traumatic for the babies. During surgery, Jessica converted back into a-fib, and her health was again a major issue. On that Tuesday morning February 9th at just 27 weeks and 3 days pregnant, Joel Dale Fahnhorst, Jr. and John William were born at 10:55 and 10:56am. Jessica went straight to the Cardiac Monitoring Unit and the babies to the NICU. Given her condition, Jessica couldn't meet her babies the first two days of their lives, which goes without saying, was very very hard.
The first days of Joel Jr. and John William's lives were very difficult for everyone. Ventilators, tests, tears, and so many unanswered questions. They were, and still are, in incubators hooked up to every machine possible monitoring their teeny tiny bodies. Since then there has been some progress, however, none of which has these babies, their parents and big brother living at home as a family anytime soon. Their lives will be in and out of the hospital lobby and waiting rooms as these little guys start their NICU journey that will last until what their due date was expected to be-May. As though all this isn't hard enough to swallow, Jessica was discharged from the hospital on February 14th. Unfortunately, the board rooms at the hospital are all full right now, so Jessica and Joel have no where to call "home" nor rest for a moment during the long days of doctor rounds, feedings through the twins lines that go from a syringe straight to their tiny tummies, and pumping breastmilk. Until Jessica recovers from surgery and can drive herself, she gets picked up by her Mom or Dad in the morning around 6:00am to be sure to get to the 1st doctor rounds in the NICU to hear about the recap of the twins last 24 hours. From there, she spends her days in and out of the NICU until Joel gets off work (yes, he went back to work 2 days after the babies arrived), and he drives out to the hospital to see Joel, Jr. and John William, and then takes Jessica home between 10:00 and 11:00pm. With all this, there is Joel's son Jarrett-the sweetest most wonderful and proud big brother. His life has been turned upside down to say the least, and while he is very worried about the babies, it seems he understands they are in great care, but his big question is, "When is Jess coming back home?". Heart breaking and understandable. The next few months will be an adjustment for sure, but no doubt these Fahnhorsts are an amazing breed and will make it through!
Given these circumstances, you can only imagine the financial hardships that go along with such a story. That is why our families wanted to create an outlet for support and updates for everyone who cares for and wants to follow Joel, Jessica, Jarrett, Joel Dale Jr., and John William's story. The outpour of support and love for this family has been amazing to say the least, and still, everyone asks how they can help beyond sending their love and prayers-so this page has been created.
Thank you to everyone for all the love you have shown for this family. I will be updating you all regularly on the family's progress on this journey.
xoxo,
Nicole Kopp
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicole Shapiro Kopp
Organizer
Livermore, CA
Jessica Fahnhorst
Beneficiary