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HELP BABY ELIJAH and HIS FAMILY

My name is Cheryl Luke and I became friends with Jamie Kay who is Elijah's Mom when her daughter was in my preschool class. Then Jamie and I  became close friends during her daughter's Distance Learning when I called to check on her daughter and family weekly after our Headstart Preschool program closed down due to COVID in March of 2020. After the program ended for the year Jamie and I continued to talk weekly. During this time she told me she was pregnant.

Jamie and her fiance Earl have been together for over 2 years. She has 5 children, one of which is with Earl. They were both done having children especially because it would be to dangerous for Jamie to get pregnant again. Earl had set up an appointment to get a vasectomy earlier in the year, but the COVID outbreak caused that to be canceled. With that happening and an obvious failed birth control method, they fell pregnant. 

Jamie's due date was December 11th, 2020. In July she was sent to a Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic (High Risk OB). She had an ultrasound that showed a spot on her uterus that was very thin. If it went below 2mm she would have to deliver at 37 weeks on November 20th. If more than 2mm by 38 weeks she would get steriod shots for baby's lungs at 36 weeks for 5 days. She was already anemic before she was getting iron infusions regularly.  She started getting IV fluids twice a week to help her stay hydrated.

On October 5, 2020 Jamie went to the hospital and was given IV fluids because she started having contractions. If the contractions continued  she would call her OB in the morning. Due to her continued contractions she was sent to Albany med.  Once at Albany Med she was given steriod shots and medication to stop labor due to her cervix staying closed. Jamie was admitted and meds to stop labor. She was then sent home the next day and told to follow up with her OB on October 15th. 

On October 15  everything was okay, but Jamie still didn't feel right. 

On Thursday, October 22nd 2020 Jamie started having contractions again.  By Saturday she was having contractions consistently with pain and pressure. She called her OB and was told to go to Labor and Delivery at Saratoga Hospital. She was given a steriod shot and medication to help control her contractions. She was then sent to Albany Med by ambulance. At 3am the baby's heart rate dropped and went back up. At 10:30am contractions were bad again and baby Elijah's heart rate dropped again and was harder to bring back. At this point Jamie called Earl and told him to come right away! She told him they weren't waiting any longer. She was having a c-section !

In the end traffic and an accident prevented Earl from making it on time to see Baby Elijah John-Eugene born 8:37am weighing 4lbs 5oz.  17.5 inches long.

The umbilical cord had been wrapped around baby Elijah's neck twice and was in a true knot! He was safer being born than staying in his mother waiting any longer!

Jamie had a large amount of blood loss, but has recovered. Baby Elijah was in NICU at first and only needed forced room air and no additional oxygen. CO2 levels were a bit high at first so his breathing was switched through the nose. The next morning his breathing help was removed and he was breathing on his own! Right now all Jamie does know is that Baby Elijah won't be able to come home until his due date on December 11th, but was also told if he hits all his goals he might be able to home.

Jamie was discharged over a week ago and went home with her other children. She was driving 45 minutes each way to Albany Med to see Baby Elijah while taking care of her 5 other children. This is while Earl works because they can't go see Baby Elijah together. Her van that she was relying on died. Then they had to count on friends and some family to help her. Plus the cost in gas is expensive. Jamie can also not work due to her own medical issues. Since Baby Elijah has been born so early it has put a lot of financial strain on the family were they will need extra help for the holidays with the children.

Jamie is a very giving and caring person. She has always been willing to give what she has to help others even when she doesn't have a lot herself. She gives whatever she can to help her children and other children. She puts her children first above all else and gives freely to others.

Jamie and I would appreciate any support you could give her family during this difficult time. Jamie has also set up her our group page on FB called "NICU Journey of Elijah John-Eugene "Big E"

Please Share this post with your FB friends to help this sweet baby and his family

Thank you so much,

Cheryl Luke
Director, Jumper Bean Preschool
441 Geyser Road
Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Organizer

Cheryl Luke
Organizer
Town of Providence, NY

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