I'm hoping to raise some funds to help us with Rylee's medical bills and breathing equipment.

 

Rylee Rose was born on August 30, 2021 at 27 weeks, weighing 2 pounds and 4 ounces and 15 inches. She came into the world crying, which was a good sign. However, they quickly told us to prepare for a long and hard NICU Journey.

 

Travis and I have always wanted a family of our own. Unfortunately I was unable to conceive a child on my own. I found a OBGYN that was willing to listen and help me. I was then put of a medication to help me ovulate and a strict diet. Month after month I would go to the doctor and they would tell me the medication didn't work this month. I was getting so discouraged. My father passed away in January unexpectedly due to COVID and all he ever wanted was a grandbaby. Right before he passed I remember holding his hand begging him to fight because I wanted him to be around to meet his grandbabies one day. I was very depressed and I decided to take the next two months off medication. March we decided let try again. I went to the doctors like I did every month for bloodwork and test. I got a phone call a few days later saying it worked. I was beyond excited. I was finally able to make a child. A few weeks go by and I took a test one morning and it said pregnant. I was so excited.

 

On June 12 my mom threw us a little gender reveal party. I wanted a little girl from the moment I found out I was pregnant. I was in complete shock when I saw pink. We already had a little girl name picked out. My grandmother had picked the name "Rose" before she passed away last year. I couldn’t wait to be a mom! 

 

My pregnancy was pretty smooth. I was around 25 weeks when I started feeling baby girl move and kick. It was such an amazing feeling but short lived. I just hit my 27 weeks that Sunday. I was having pains and they continued to get worse throughout the night. Around 3 AM Monday morning I was in so much pain and I was bleeding. I just knew something was wrong and I thought I was losing my baby. I screamed and woke Travis up. He rushed me to the hospital to labor and delivery. Once we got there they placed me into a room and started doing a checking me and the baby out. Once I heard Rylee heartbeat on the monitor I felt so much better. I was relieved and was hopeful they can give me something to stop this labor from happening. Sadly, I was 10cm dilated and I felt the need to push because of all the pressure. I hear the doctor screaming to get a delivery room ready NOW. I’m trying to stay calm while everyone is asking me a million health questions as I being poked for IVs. I can remember one of the questions was if I need a transfusion did I give consent, she began to explain what a transfusion was. I said yes, thinking how silly of a question. I was rushed into my delivery room was waiting on my doctor to get there. He got there and broke my water and I was only 5cm at the point. I was so ready to push. They told me to wait little bit longer. I went ahead and got my epidural during all this time as well. As we’re waiting things turned for the worse. I started to pass large clots and bleed very bad. My heart rate dropped and I couldn’t breathe. They give Travis a oxygen mask to hold on me. They started screaming “get a OR ready now” “hurry we need to go now”.  I can remember the rushing me down the halls to the OR. I’m feeling like I’m dying. My vision was getting very blurry and I was struggling to breathe. I’m so scared at this moment. I remember looking at the door waiting for Travis and I didn’t know where he was. I can hear my doctor yelling we need to start right now. Next thing I know, I felt the first cut and just screamed. They quickly realized my epidural didn’t have enough time to settle in. A nurse walked up to me and said your going to go to sleep now. Since they had to put me under they couldn’t let Travis in. We both ended up missing the birth of our little girl. 

A hour or so later I woke up in my original delivery room. I just remember being so scared and not able to see. A nurse noticed I started to wake and got me my glasses. The first thing I asked was “How’s Rylee?”. They told me she was okay and was in good hands. Travis came in and I asked him the same questions. He told me Rylee was okay. He told me I was okay, but I lost a lot of blood, roughly 1.6 liters. I was given a blood transfusion. We both made it. I was happy we were both okay. A few minutes later they took me to see my baby girl for the first time. I remember seeing her for the first time. I was terrified but happy. I was mixed with so many emotions. Our first day/night in the hospital was the hardest. I couldn’t sleep. I was up every hour just crying for my baby. The nurse would rush in and check on me. I would be okay, just sad. I’m was thinking about how much I’ve already failed my child. It’s my fault she came early. It’s my fault she’s fighting for her life every single moment. I didn’t get to hear my babies first cry. I didn’t get to hold her right away. The thoughts were constantly taking over. Postpartum Depression was really rough. I still have my days but I’m getting better. If my little girl can be strong then so can I. 

When she was born she was placed on a ventilator and under lights due to jaundice. 3 days later she was moved on to a bubble CPAP machine. Little over a week later I was finally able to hold my baby for the first time. I never knew I could love someone so much. She was improving a lot on the CPAP until she got very sick with "NEC". They ended up placing her back onto the ventilator for a week. She was giving antibiotics for 14 days and had two blood transfusions. Two weeks later she was back to herself and was improving again. Thank god. Watching your baby struggle and not being able to hold her was very hard. Once she was completely better Travis was finally able to hold for the first time. Recently she got her two month shots which made her VERY sick again. She was so sick for a couple of days. She had to get another blood transfusion and more antibiotics. She's finally recovering and doing good. We're planning on Rylee to come home soon. She will be coming home on a oxygen machine and will require a in home nurses to care for her when I return to work after a week. 

We appreciate all the prayers, donations, and support during this time. We will continue to take each day at a time and keep celebrating all the little victories. She a strong little warrior princess.