Donation protected
Our family: dad- gerry, mom- genine, brother- Quintin 4yr sister- Sadie 2yr
Its June 14th and day 20 of being at children’s hospital with Harley who was born April 28.
Besides joking that as our third baby he wanted more attention when we discovered he was breech, everything seemed normal with Harley. He made his entrance on his terms and arrived via caesarean ( my first).
I was making a good and fast recovery and life as a family of five was settling into routine. Harley was doing well and what baby’s usually do.
On may 25 during an afternoon diaper change I cried as i noticed Harley belly looked like a veiny balloon i could pop if I touched it. Worried i was able to FaceTime with my brother who is a nurse practitioner in the states. He saw Harley and told me to get to the hospital ASAP.
At emergency Harley got an xray that showed a distended bowel and after consulting with children’s it was determined the best thing was for Harley to go to Winnipeg via ambulance.
We arrived at children’s early am on the 26th. After blood tests and more xray the distended bowel did not show blockage but a shadow was noticed and they discovered his bladder was distended. A catheter was put in and he let out 2 milk jugs of pee in 2 hours. Blood tests revealed poor kidney function and what they suspected was that he had a valve blockage at the base of his bladder in the urethra which caused a back up and pressure in the bladder all the way to the kidneys. He would need a simple surgery to open the gates and then we could better understand the function he had left in his kidneys and bladder. First task was to get his kidneys functioning as well as they could pre surgery. Harley responded really well to meds and treatment and had a successful surgery on June 3. The next week Harley was monitored 24/7 and his body was tested to see what it was capable of on its own. He was unable to pee until a full week after surgery. We were told his bladder looked more like a 90year old it had worked so hard squeezing for so long he would need intermittent catheters 4x a day to completely empty out his bladder. This is very important and will continue at home to ensure he does not get infection or pressure again in the bladder backing up to the kidneys which would affect their function. As of today the kidneys are doing what they need to do, praise the Lord God Almighty.
During the 24/7 monitoring Harley had episodes of high heat rate and low respiration in relaxed state. To rule out infection the doctors ordered a CT. They found something unexpected. By Gods grace it was a day Gerry was visiting and we were both led to a consult room to hear they had found a golf ball size area in his right brain with restricted blood flow. A mini stroke that may have happened in the womb. Though Harley moves and looks like a 1 month old we are waiting for more answers to how his future will be impacted. His brain is growing and able to make new roads but can only compensate so much. We await an MRI.
Currently i am at the hospital with Harley and Gerry is home ( in Portage) with the kids and comes into Winnipeg every few days to visit . I will be on maternity leave until end of April, and Gerry will be on Caregiver EI to focus on the kids and transitioning when home with care.
Our family is sincerely grateful for the support of community past and present, near and far. We have felt Gods strength and grace physically holding us up at moments. The peace to persevere and keep trusting in Gods goodness and promises. We are determined to give God this battle and allow him to receive all glory. This story is bigger than just my family it is a part of his story and for his kingdom. So many play a role and dont even know it.
2 Chronicles 20
V3 -4“Jehosaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord….And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord”
V12”…we do not know what to do, But our eyes are on you.”
V15..”thus says the Lord to you; do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”
Its June 14th and day 20 of being at children’s hospital with Harley who was born April 28.
Besides joking that as our third baby he wanted more attention when we discovered he was breech, everything seemed normal with Harley. He made his entrance on his terms and arrived via caesarean ( my first).
I was making a good and fast recovery and life as a family of five was settling into routine. Harley was doing well and what baby’s usually do.
On may 25 during an afternoon diaper change I cried as i noticed Harley belly looked like a veiny balloon i could pop if I touched it. Worried i was able to FaceTime with my brother who is a nurse practitioner in the states. He saw Harley and told me to get to the hospital ASAP.
At emergency Harley got an xray that showed a distended bowel and after consulting with children’s it was determined the best thing was for Harley to go to Winnipeg via ambulance.
We arrived at children’s early am on the 26th. After blood tests and more xray the distended bowel did not show blockage but a shadow was noticed and they discovered his bladder was distended. A catheter was put in and he let out 2 milk jugs of pee in 2 hours. Blood tests revealed poor kidney function and what they suspected was that he had a valve blockage at the base of his bladder in the urethra which caused a back up and pressure in the bladder all the way to the kidneys. He would need a simple surgery to open the gates and then we could better understand the function he had left in his kidneys and bladder. First task was to get his kidneys functioning as well as they could pre surgery. Harley responded really well to meds and treatment and had a successful surgery on June 3. The next week Harley was monitored 24/7 and his body was tested to see what it was capable of on its own. He was unable to pee until a full week after surgery. We were told his bladder looked more like a 90year old it had worked so hard squeezing for so long he would need intermittent catheters 4x a day to completely empty out his bladder. This is very important and will continue at home to ensure he does not get infection or pressure again in the bladder backing up to the kidneys which would affect their function. As of today the kidneys are doing what they need to do, praise the Lord God Almighty.
During the 24/7 monitoring Harley had episodes of high heat rate and low respiration in relaxed state. To rule out infection the doctors ordered a CT. They found something unexpected. By Gods grace it was a day Gerry was visiting and we were both led to a consult room to hear they had found a golf ball size area in his right brain with restricted blood flow. A mini stroke that may have happened in the womb. Though Harley moves and looks like a 1 month old we are waiting for more answers to how his future will be impacted. His brain is growing and able to make new roads but can only compensate so much. We await an MRI.
Currently i am at the hospital with Harley and Gerry is home ( in Portage) with the kids and comes into Winnipeg every few days to visit . I will be on maternity leave until end of April, and Gerry will be on Caregiver EI to focus on the kids and transitioning when home with care.
Our family is sincerely grateful for the support of community past and present, near and far. We have felt Gods strength and grace physically holding us up at moments. The peace to persevere and keep trusting in Gods goodness and promises. We are determined to give God this battle and allow him to receive all glory. This story is bigger than just my family it is a part of his story and for his kingdom. So many play a role and dont even know it.
2 Chronicles 20
V3 -4“Jehosaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord….And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord”
V12”…we do not know what to do, But our eyes are on you.”
V15..”thus says the Lord to you; do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”
Organizer and beneficiary
MaryAnn Galston
Organizer
Portage la Prairie, MB
Harley Wood
Beneficiary