Life saving fundraiser for Ruth Tagg
Donation protected
I am doing this fundraiser for my sweet friend, Brandie, who just gave birth to a micro-preemie baby, Ruth. Due to life-threatening complications for the mom and baby, she was born at 23 weeks old weighing 445 grams. Any donations are greatly appreciated as Ruth will need critical care for quite some time and the medical bills could get astronomical.
Please read Brandie’s story of what happened below:
On March 26th around 3:00 AM, I woke up with a lot of chest pain. I thought it was indigestion/heart burn and so I sat up, making the pain worse. I fought the pain for an hour before deciding to drive myself to the hospital so Chapman could stay home with Bradley (our 2 year old). At this time I was 23 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I was checked in, did a urine sample, blood pressure cuff on and eventually given some pain meds. My blood pressures were super high. I was watching them on the screen and when the doctor came in I asked if he was worried about those as high BP is a sign of preeclampsia. He was surprised I knew that and said he was still trying to figure out what was going on. My urine sample showed protein and my liver and pancreatic enzymes were elevated. This led them to believe that I had gallstones. Next thing I know my OBGYN is in my room telling me I was being transferred to EIRMC because of my blood pressures. He said he didn’t want to risk it if I had preeclampsia but he was hopeful it wasn’t. I went by ambulance.
When I got to EIRMC, my blood pressure had reached 192/112. I had a chest X-ray done, an ultrasound to check my gallbladder. I was admitted for preeclampsia. Have you ever heard of a pregnant woman talk about magnesium? It’s the worst. It makes you swollen, you feel extremely hot, you’re exhausted, and there’s nothing you can do because it’s the best thing to help keep preeclampsia symptoms at bay. I met multiple doctors. The Neonatal Specialist came in and guided me through what having a 23 weeker baby would look like. That conversation was awful. Hearing her likelihood of surviving and if she did, all the issues she could have because of it. They then said, “before you have this baby we need to know if you and your husband want us to resuscitate her or just make her comfortable.” It was an obvious answer for us but they went over what each response entailed and I could see both sides.
For 3 days we were able to keep my BP under control somewhat. By March 30th, I was getting back into the 190’s. The OBGYN came in and said he would give my body an hour but if it wasn’t down, we were taking baby. Chapman gave me a priesthood blessing and when my BP ran it was 130/70. A freaking miracle. A few hours later my blood pressure was 193/113. Nurses and anesthesia came in in surgical scrubs and started prepping me for c-section. I was so mad at my body. At 12:14 AM on March 31st, our sweet baby girl, Ruth was born weighing 425 grams and at 23 weeks 6 days. During my c-section, I was having a panic attack. As soon as they pulled Ruth out, she made two little noises that sounded like a kitty. That was another miracle-babies that young cannot breathe on their own so she shouldn’t have made any noise whatsoever. I was in the hospital for a total of 10 days before I got to go home.
Ruth is now 7 weeks old. She is doing okay for a micro-preemie. She has low Blood Pressure, high oxygen needs, a heart murmur, a colostomy bag, an infection, and is really bothered by being worked on. She had 3 surgeries in 5 days to correct her spontaneous perforated bowels where they took 20% of her intestines out and a heart surgery to close an open duct. The hospital she is at is 35 minutes from our house, we don’t see her as much as we’d like due to work schedules, school schedules, and since we have a 2 year old. We have had so much support and prayers and we feel them all. Ruth is in great hands. Her doctors are amazing.
Most micro-preemies have to be transferred to different hospitals for the surgeries Ruth is requiring. Her pediatric surgeon started at EIRMC on April 1st, the day after Ruth was born. Another miracle as it is unknown if Ruth could’ve survived being transported. Ruth can now stay put for the surgeries she requires and we are so thankful for that.
Donations would be greatly appreciated to help with all medical bills that will be coming since Ruth will need medical care for quite some time. If you cannot donate, we would appreciate all good thoughts, prayers, and love sent our way.
We have great faith in God’s plan for our little Ruthie. Born at only 445 grams, she’s one of the biggest fighters we know.
Please read Brandie’s story of what happened below:
On March 26th around 3:00 AM, I woke up with a lot of chest pain. I thought it was indigestion/heart burn and so I sat up, making the pain worse. I fought the pain for an hour before deciding to drive myself to the hospital so Chapman could stay home with Bradley (our 2 year old). At this time I was 23 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I was checked in, did a urine sample, blood pressure cuff on and eventually given some pain meds. My blood pressures were super high. I was watching them on the screen and when the doctor came in I asked if he was worried about those as high BP is a sign of preeclampsia. He was surprised I knew that and said he was still trying to figure out what was going on. My urine sample showed protein and my liver and pancreatic enzymes were elevated. This led them to believe that I had gallstones. Next thing I know my OBGYN is in my room telling me I was being transferred to EIRMC because of my blood pressures. He said he didn’t want to risk it if I had preeclampsia but he was hopeful it wasn’t. I went by ambulance.
When I got to EIRMC, my blood pressure had reached 192/112. I had a chest X-ray done, an ultrasound to check my gallbladder. I was admitted for preeclampsia. Have you ever heard of a pregnant woman talk about magnesium? It’s the worst. It makes you swollen, you feel extremely hot, you’re exhausted, and there’s nothing you can do because it’s the best thing to help keep preeclampsia symptoms at bay. I met multiple doctors. The Neonatal Specialist came in and guided me through what having a 23 weeker baby would look like. That conversation was awful. Hearing her likelihood of surviving and if she did, all the issues she could have because of it. They then said, “before you have this baby we need to know if you and your husband want us to resuscitate her or just make her comfortable.” It was an obvious answer for us but they went over what each response entailed and I could see both sides.
For 3 days we were able to keep my BP under control somewhat. By March 30th, I was getting back into the 190’s. The OBGYN came in and said he would give my body an hour but if it wasn’t down, we were taking baby. Chapman gave me a priesthood blessing and when my BP ran it was 130/70. A freaking miracle. A few hours later my blood pressure was 193/113. Nurses and anesthesia came in in surgical scrubs and started prepping me for c-section. I was so mad at my body. At 12:14 AM on March 31st, our sweet baby girl, Ruth was born weighing 425 grams and at 23 weeks 6 days. During my c-section, I was having a panic attack. As soon as they pulled Ruth out, she made two little noises that sounded like a kitty. That was another miracle-babies that young cannot breathe on their own so she shouldn’t have made any noise whatsoever. I was in the hospital for a total of 10 days before I got to go home.
Ruth is now 7 weeks old. She is doing okay for a micro-preemie. She has low Blood Pressure, high oxygen needs, a heart murmur, a colostomy bag, an infection, and is really bothered by being worked on. She had 3 surgeries in 5 days to correct her spontaneous perforated bowels where they took 20% of her intestines out and a heart surgery to close an open duct. The hospital she is at is 35 minutes from our house, we don’t see her as much as we’d like due to work schedules, school schedules, and since we have a 2 year old. We have had so much support and prayers and we feel them all. Ruth is in great hands. Her doctors are amazing.
Most micro-preemies have to be transferred to different hospitals for the surgeries Ruth is requiring. Her pediatric surgeon started at EIRMC on April 1st, the day after Ruth was born. Another miracle as it is unknown if Ruth could’ve survived being transported. Ruth can now stay put for the surgeries she requires and we are so thankful for that.
Donations would be greatly appreciated to help with all medical bills that will be coming since Ruth will need medical care for quite some time. If you cannot donate, we would appreciate all good thoughts, prayers, and love sent our way.
We have great faith in God’s plan for our little Ruthie. Born at only 445 grams, she’s one of the biggest fighters we know.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sydnee Spjute
Organizer
Saratoga Springs, UT
Brandie Kulmus
Beneficiary
