Elliott's Angels

My name is Elliott Michael Blaisdell.  I just arrived on Friday, November 9^th, 2012 at 5:31 pm.  I weighed in at 8 pounds 14 ounces and was 20 inches long.  Mommy's delivery went well but I sure did give her a little scare because I had my umbilical cord wrapped around my neck.  However, the doctor's took care of me and everything was going well.  I loved looking in Mommy's eyes and I loved when she looked back, smiling and talking to me.

I had a couple visitors on Saturday and everyone was talking about how precious I was.  The doctors were saying there was a possibility that I would get to go home later that night, but I wasn't eating so I had to stay an extra night.  We were pretty sure that I was finally going to get to take my first car ride home on Sunday instead.  Sunday morning came and I still wasn't eating and I had not gone to the bathroom yet.  The nurses ended up having to pump my stomach out and then I had an x-ray taken.  When the x-ray came back there was concern amongst the doctors.  I wasn't happy and I was in a lot of pain, so instead of taking my first ride in a car, I had to take my first ride in a helicopter.  The nurses were really nice and took good care of me, but it was pretty scary being away from Mommy and Daddy Nathan.  The doctors were saying that when I arrived at the children's hospital I was going to be evaluated and would probably have to go into emergency surgery.  The doctors started running the tests and found out that I did need surgery and they got me in right away because I had a largely dilated bowel and my intestines were twisted up.  When I woke up from surgery I heard them telling Mommy and Daddy Nathan that it was probable that I had Cystic Fibrosis.  They had run tests and told us that we just had to wait to hear back with the results.  Mommy and Daddy Nathan stayed with me at the hospital which made me feel loved and happy.

Over the next few days I was very tired and very sleepy from all of the pain medication that I was on.  The doctor's keep poking me with needles and giving me new IV's every day.  I was on a ventilator to help me breathe and I had a tube going down into my tummy to suction out all of the yucky stuff that was in me.  It is really tough on Mommy.  The doctors did a test and found out that my white blood cells were elevated so they thought I might have an infection from the surgery so they started me on antibiotics. 

I did have a couple visitors come down and see me again.  Mommy and Nathan were finally able to hold me again.  I loved being in their arms.  I like to sleep when Mommy holds me, and when Daddy Nathan holds me I like to open my eyes and smile at him.  I am so glad that they are staying close to my side.

The doctors came back in the room and told Mommy that my newborn screening tests results were back and that my Cystic Fibrosis test came back positive.  The doctors and nurses have been talking to Mommy and Daddy Nathan all week preparing them for what life will be like if I did have Cystic Fibrosis.

The doctors are staying that I will probably have to stay down at the children's hospital for four weeks.  I hear that I have a lot of people praying for me; for Mommy and Daddy Nathan too.  Everyone is saying that I am at one of the best hospitals around, but I know having the best hands working on me for four weeks is going to be very expensive.  I am hoping that you would consider being one of my angels and donating to help with my care.  I will be sure to keep you updated on my advances and progress.  Please keep me, Mommy and Daddy Nathan in your prayers.