Love for baby Kendalyn Long

Hello, I'm Katie Steele and Kalista is one of my best friends. Myself and her other close friends and family would love if you could send extra love, prayers, and any monetary donation for Derek, Kalista, Kendalyn, Jackson, Brecken, and Brynlee during this difficult time. Kendalyn will be spending time at the University of Iowa children's hospital in the NICU for awhile and thankfully Derek and Kalista are able to stay at Ronald McDonald House currently but commuting back and forth, eating out, and future medical expenses will add up. Anything you can give would be appreciated ❤️

Here is their story:

 

Kendalyn Amalia Long

April 22, 2022 @ 10:45 am

6 lbs 2 oz ~ 19 inches long

 

We are so in love!

 

Kendalyn is currently admitted at The University of Iowa’s NICU, Bay 1 highest level of care with diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grade 3-4 (extensive brain bleed) and seizures.

 

This isn’t how I envisioned her birth announcement to be. I have bigs bows, a cute sign, and want to show off her gorgeous face and hair, but this has been our reality. We were able to get a few picture of our beautiful daughter before all the tubes and wires.

 

There is much to Kendalyn’s (and my own) story, but here’s a summary. Derek and I found out at our 20 week anatomy ultrasound that our daughter’s brain was showing a rare brain abnormality called Dandy Walker Malformation. We found this out a few days before Christmas. We only have shared this news with immediate family and friends, until we would find out more on her condition after birth. My desire is for Kendalyn to be known as Kendalyn and not as a condition. Multiple ultrasounds, MRI, amniocentesis, tests, and appointments, we were monitored and needed to deliver at The University of Iowa for their Pediatric neurologist, neurosurgeon, neonatology, level of NICU care and multiple team of doctors. I myself have high blood, developed gestational diabetes requiring insulin management, and delivered with preeclampsia. I made it until 36 weeks-ish and was induced Thursday and had Kendalyn Friday.

 

It has been a whirlwind. Kendalyn came out and surprised everyone doing on how well she was doing. After birth, it was planned for her to have a MRI to look at her Dandy Walker Malformation. During this scan, they unsuspectingly found her to have a massive brain bleed, called interventricular hemorrhage, throughout her ventricles and down her brain stem. Given the severity of the bleed, they immediately admitted her to NICU and started a continuous EEG in anticipation of her to have seizures. Kendalyn went her first 24 hours of life without seizures and then they started and were severe and has needed multiple doses of multiple medications to stop them. Kendalyn’s IVH causing seizures and her Dandy Walker are not related and no one is sure what caused the bleed.

 

What we would appreciate more than anything is all the prayers, positive vibes, healing, and love sent towards our sweet baby Kendalyn Amalia. ♥️

 

Derek has been my rock and best at answering messages, as I have been on a roller coaster of emotions. We keep our parents updated as we can and they have been wonderful relaying updates for us. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Kendalyn.