Kale`a's NICU Journey
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With the guidance of their family and friends, Brian and Yvonne have chosen to share and update their experience using this platform. They would greatly appreciate support during this sensitive chapter in life. Please, respectfully subscribe for updates on Kale`a’s journey, leave words of encouragement, or help them by relieving some of the financial burdens they are currently facing. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
- Team Kale`a organizers
"Little baby, I understand that life never goes exactly as planned, and that something so little can be so grand." We love everything about you Little Miss Kale`a Brayleigh San Agustin.
Yvonne:
On January 1st 2019, Brian and I decided to go the ER after I received a borderline blood pressure reading that morning. We were not too concerned, but felt it was necessary to have a doctor check my vitals again. When we arrived to Kaiser, the ER nurses made the decision to have me admitted to the labor and delivery center to monitor any sudden changes.
Later that morning, doctors advised us that we would be staying in the hospital for 48 hours. Their plan was to give me two steroid shots to help develop Kale`a’s lungs in case an emergency delivery was necessary. However, they were hopeful and believed that I would continue to stay pregnant until 37 weeks.
On January 2nd, 2019, my health began to slowly decline. Doctors ordered blood tests every 4 hours, blood pressure checks every hour, and checked protein levels in my urine for 24 hours. The results indicated a pre-eclampsia diagnosis. Fortunately, I made it to the 24-hour mark and received my second steroid shot early that afternoon.
As day 2 in the hospital was coming to an end, Brian and I were hopeful that we would be sent home. My doctor came in and shared the results of my labs. My kidney levels were getting worse and I was now experiencing severe pre-eclampsia. They stopped my food and water intake and immediately began a magnesium IV to reduce the risk of having a seizure if I had to deliver our baby.
On January 3rd, 2019, my Mom arrived from California to support Brian and I as things were getting worse. By this day my health was like a roller coaster. I would become stable after being given IV fluids but then my symptoms began to get worse. I was allowed to eat again but no longer had an appetite and I could not hold down food. I was also experiencing migraines, severe swelling, and excessive weight gain (183lbs-up 30 lbs) in 3 days. To make matters worse, the symptoms I was experiencing were being felt by my baby as well. My doctor diagnosed it as mirror syndrome.
On January 4th, 2019, Brian and I were woken up by doctors at 6 am and were told that they would begin preparing me for an emergency c-section. We were both frightened and overwhelmed. The past 3 days were already a whirlwind and now we were about to deliver our first child at 29 weeks pregnant.
At 9:45 am on Friday January 4, 2019 our “tiny and mighty” micro preemie made a grand entrance into the world. Kale`a Brayleigh San Agustin was born at 1lb 11.5 ounces and 13.5 inches long. I remember hearing her cry and feeling so relieved. Before the team took Kale`a to the NICU they introduced her to me for a quick second. I’ll never forget seeing her eyes open up as I said her name. I immediately fell in love with my little girl.
Brian:
After Kale`a was taken out of the OR. I decided to stay with Yvonne while she was recovering from her surgery. All seemed to be going well until we were transferred to the Mother Baby center at Kaiser for the second stage of recovery. My mother in law, Josie, joined us in the room while we waited for updates on Kale`a. About 2 Hours post-surgery, Yvonne’s blood pressure suddenly dropped and she began to have seizure like symptoms. Josie quickly called for help and a response team of nurses and doctors rushed into the room to find Yvonne unresponsive. After a few attempts of reviving her, Yvonne woke up and was stable. 30 minutes later, another episode happened and Yvonne was immediately transferred to the ICU. There were a number of factors that caused her health to decline so rapidly and she remained in the ICU for the next 3 days without being able to see our daughter.
While these traumatic events were occurring, our Kale`a was facing her own share of complications and had to go in for surgery before she was even a day old. This was quite possibly the toughest and darkest days of my life. I had never felt so helpless. Both my girls, on two different floors, going through life threatening events, and I wasn’t able to attend to both of them at the same time. My heart was breaking but I knew I had to stay strong and provide my girls with endless support while they were in recovery.
After a 10 day hospital stay, Yvonne’s vitals were steady and she was cleared to go home. We couldn’t believe that this chapter of our story was coming to an end. It was a huge relief to be past these traumatic events and we were very fortunate to have unconditional love and support from our family and close friends through this difficult time in our lives.
Yvonne and I recently decided that it was time to share our story. This is the start of our journey as parents to a micro-preemie in the NICU and expressing our feelings through writing has put us on the path of healing and recovery. Those long days and nights were extremely challenging, but I am forever blessed to be able to continue living my life with my wife and my baby girl. We are slowly gaining peace back into our lives but there is still a big piece of our hearts missing. Now we are entering the next tough chapter in our story, having to leave the hospital every day and night without our precious girl. Our hearts and home definitely feel an important presence missing. Kale`a's journey has only just begun.
As difficult as this was for all three of us we fully believe that everything that happened was in God's plan. It wasn’t what either of us expected for our new journey as parents. However, HE would not give us situations that we are not able to overcome. Kale`a has already blessed us so much! She is a fighter and we have faith that she will continue to thrive with the support from us, her loved ones, the NICU team, and all of you! Keep our daughter in your thoughts and prayers, always! We will use this platform to provide updates as necessary. Thank you for your kindness, love, and support!
Love always,
Brian, Yvonne, and Kale`a San Agustin
- Team Kale`a organizers
"Little baby, I understand that life never goes exactly as planned, and that something so little can be so grand." We love everything about you Little Miss Kale`a Brayleigh San Agustin.
Yvonne:
On January 1st 2019, Brian and I decided to go the ER after I received a borderline blood pressure reading that morning. We were not too concerned, but felt it was necessary to have a doctor check my vitals again. When we arrived to Kaiser, the ER nurses made the decision to have me admitted to the labor and delivery center to monitor any sudden changes.
Later that morning, doctors advised us that we would be staying in the hospital for 48 hours. Their plan was to give me two steroid shots to help develop Kale`a’s lungs in case an emergency delivery was necessary. However, they were hopeful and believed that I would continue to stay pregnant until 37 weeks.
On January 2nd, 2019, my health began to slowly decline. Doctors ordered blood tests every 4 hours, blood pressure checks every hour, and checked protein levels in my urine for 24 hours. The results indicated a pre-eclampsia diagnosis. Fortunately, I made it to the 24-hour mark and received my second steroid shot early that afternoon.
As day 2 in the hospital was coming to an end, Brian and I were hopeful that we would be sent home. My doctor came in and shared the results of my labs. My kidney levels were getting worse and I was now experiencing severe pre-eclampsia. They stopped my food and water intake and immediately began a magnesium IV to reduce the risk of having a seizure if I had to deliver our baby.
On January 3rd, 2019, my Mom arrived from California to support Brian and I as things were getting worse. By this day my health was like a roller coaster. I would become stable after being given IV fluids but then my symptoms began to get worse. I was allowed to eat again but no longer had an appetite and I could not hold down food. I was also experiencing migraines, severe swelling, and excessive weight gain (183lbs-up 30 lbs) in 3 days. To make matters worse, the symptoms I was experiencing were being felt by my baby as well. My doctor diagnosed it as mirror syndrome.
On January 4th, 2019, Brian and I were woken up by doctors at 6 am and were told that they would begin preparing me for an emergency c-section. We were both frightened and overwhelmed. The past 3 days were already a whirlwind and now we were about to deliver our first child at 29 weeks pregnant.
At 9:45 am on Friday January 4, 2019 our “tiny and mighty” micro preemie made a grand entrance into the world. Kale`a Brayleigh San Agustin was born at 1lb 11.5 ounces and 13.5 inches long. I remember hearing her cry and feeling so relieved. Before the team took Kale`a to the NICU they introduced her to me for a quick second. I’ll never forget seeing her eyes open up as I said her name. I immediately fell in love with my little girl.
Brian:
After Kale`a was taken out of the OR. I decided to stay with Yvonne while she was recovering from her surgery. All seemed to be going well until we were transferred to the Mother Baby center at Kaiser for the second stage of recovery. My mother in law, Josie, joined us in the room while we waited for updates on Kale`a. About 2 Hours post-surgery, Yvonne’s blood pressure suddenly dropped and she began to have seizure like symptoms. Josie quickly called for help and a response team of nurses and doctors rushed into the room to find Yvonne unresponsive. After a few attempts of reviving her, Yvonne woke up and was stable. 30 minutes later, another episode happened and Yvonne was immediately transferred to the ICU. There were a number of factors that caused her health to decline so rapidly and she remained in the ICU for the next 3 days without being able to see our daughter.
While these traumatic events were occurring, our Kale`a was facing her own share of complications and had to go in for surgery before she was even a day old. This was quite possibly the toughest and darkest days of my life. I had never felt so helpless. Both my girls, on two different floors, going through life threatening events, and I wasn’t able to attend to both of them at the same time. My heart was breaking but I knew I had to stay strong and provide my girls with endless support while they were in recovery.
After a 10 day hospital stay, Yvonne’s vitals were steady and she was cleared to go home. We couldn’t believe that this chapter of our story was coming to an end. It was a huge relief to be past these traumatic events and we were very fortunate to have unconditional love and support from our family and close friends through this difficult time in our lives.
Yvonne and I recently decided that it was time to share our story. This is the start of our journey as parents to a micro-preemie in the NICU and expressing our feelings through writing has put us on the path of healing and recovery. Those long days and nights were extremely challenging, but I am forever blessed to be able to continue living my life with my wife and my baby girl. We are slowly gaining peace back into our lives but there is still a big piece of our hearts missing. Now we are entering the next tough chapter in our story, having to leave the hospital every day and night without our precious girl. Our hearts and home definitely feel an important presence missing. Kale`a's journey has only just begun.
As difficult as this was for all three of us we fully believe that everything that happened was in God's plan. It wasn’t what either of us expected for our new journey as parents. However, HE would not give us situations that we are not able to overcome. Kale`a has already blessed us so much! She is a fighter and we have faith that she will continue to thrive with the support from us, her loved ones, the NICU team, and all of you! Keep our daughter in your thoughts and prayers, always! We will use this platform to provide updates as necessary. Thank you for your kindness, love, and support!
Love always,
Brian, Yvonne, and Kale`a San Agustin
Co-organizers (9)
San Agustin Family
Organizer
Ewa Beach, HI
Brian San Agustin
Beneficiary
Chrissy Gallegos
Co-organizer
Josie Gallegos
Co-organizer
Loren Rangel
Co-organizer
Peggy Karwiel
Co-organizer