Support Baby Eden Through This Challenging Journey

Support Baby Eden Through This Challenging Journey

Hi my name is Jennifer, and I am creating this page for my niece Eden Rae and family

Kayla Budney (My younger sister) and her partner, Jordan Reinert, discovered their pregnancy in April 2023. The pregnancy progressed normally until the delivery day arrived. On Sunday, November 26th, Kayla was scheduled for induction. However, due to limited space, she was sent back home and instructed to return on Wednesday, November 29th. On November 27th, Kayla accidentally tripped over a string attached to one of the Christmas decorations on their lawn, causing her to fall on her hands and knees. Concerned about the well-being of herself and the baby, she decided to visit the Emergency Room for a check-up. After thorough testing, both Kayla and the baby were found to be in good health. Just as Kayla was about to be discharged, she mentioned to the nurse that she believed her water had broken. Indeed, her water had broken, leading to her immediate admission to a hospital room.

As the contractions began, Kayla opted for an epidural. However, after an hour, the epidural stopped working on her right side. A replacement epidural was attempted, but it also proved unsuccessful. Finally, on the third attempt, the third epidural successfully alleviated her pain. Kayla endured labor for more than 12 hours and pushed for a continuous 4 hours. Unfortunately, the baby was unable to pass through the pelvis, prompting the doctor to employ a vacuum seal to assist in the delivery.

It became evident that the baby was stuck, and an emergency c-section was necessary due to shoulder dystocia. Two doctors worked together to safely deliver the baby, Eden Rae, on November 28th at 3:15pm. However, the situation took a turn for the worse after the birth.

The medical team was called in as the baby was not breathing independently. They intubated Eden and swiftly transferred her out of the room. Approximately an hour later, a doctor entered the recovery room to inform Kayla and Jordan that their baby was being airlifted by helicopter to John Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, which was a two-hour journey from their home. Due to Kayla's need for recovery, they were unable to see their baby for three days. Upon arrival to the hospital a chest x-ray was performed, revealing a pneumothorax in her right lung. Additionally, she was diagnosed with HIE (Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy). In response to the trauma she experienced, she was immediately placed on a cooling blanket. The following day, she was extubated and given a high flow of oxygen. Later on, she had a seizure, prompting the medical team to conduct an EEG to monitor her brain waves and activity for any further seizures. Subsequently, she was prescribed seizure medication. By 11/30, she was able to breathe on her own without the assistance of oxygen. On 12/1, the process of rewarming her body temperature began, which took approximately 6 hours to return to normal. She tolerated the procedure well. Close monitoring of her blood pressure and seizure activities was conducted, as these could be potential side effects of the rewarming process. Although her blood pressure did decrease at one point, the nurse promptly addressed the issue and it returned to normal. On 12/2, the parents were finally able to hold their daughter. Upon successful monitoring, the EEG was discontinued as there was no longer a need to monitor her brain activity for seizures. Eventually, she was relocated to a more secluded area within the NICU. On December 3rd, she commenced her eating routine, albeit in small portions due to the sedative effects of her seizure medication. The medical team closely monitored her progress for a few days and proposed removing the line in her umbilical cord and increasing her feedings. In order to encourage her to consume more during feedings, the doctors agreed to reduce her dosage of seizure medication. Additionally, they opted to insert an NG tube through her nose as a precautionary measure, allowing for the administration of any remaining required amount of food if she failed to finish it orally.

On December 5th, she had an MRI scan to assess potential brain damage due to being stuck in the birth canal. This incident also led to a seizure episode, followed by a subsequent cooling and rewarming process. The following day, the results were received, indicating no abnormalities. Consequently, the doctors made the decision to discontinue her seizure medication since the MRI results were normal. As the medication gradually left her system, she became more alert and responsive, displaying a significant improvement in her ability to consume her feedings. On December 7th, the medical team decided to remove her NG tube.

Kayla's challenging childbirth, marked by an emergency c-section and multiple blood transfusions, will extend her absence from work beyond approved maternity leave. Amidst these difficulties, she also encountered an allergic reaction during the c-section, leading to a post-discharge emergency room visit. Although she received steroids for relief, the cause remains uncertain.

Gratitude fills our hearts for the immense love and support our friends and family have received over the last two weeks. As Baby Eden's medical needs persist, I'm seeking assistance to relieve the strain of uncovered medical expenses during this challenging period.