On January 28, 2025, I was sent to Christiana’s OB triage from maternal fetal medicine. I was then kept in triage overnight while waiting for a neurology consult due to a headache that I had for almost a week that would not go away. I was already battling high blood pressure and had started daily blood pressure medication after submitting my home blood pressures to the MFM doctors weekly.

On January 29, 2025, I was officially admitted into the hospital and was told that I would likely go into surgery within 2 days to deliver our baby boy, even with only being 24 weeks. At this time, I was officially diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe findings with the added neuro findings.

As the triage nurse was taking Will and me to what we thought was my room, she was advised to take me straight to periop, where we then learned that we would be meeting our son that day in order to save my life and hopefully his as well. The NICU team met us in the room and gave us a cliff notes version of what was going to happen and the risks of a 24-week delivery.

Will and I welcomed our son into the world at 24 weeks via emergency C-section on January 29, 2025, at 2:42 pm, weighing 1 lb 13 oz and 13.75 inches.

Jameson Thomas has been fighting and thriving in the NICU. Although being born at 24 weeks has not and will not be without challenges and difficulties, we will continue to help Jameson fight for his life and everything that will come his way.

On February 3, 2025, we got the results of Jameson’s brain ultrasound. Unfortunately, we did not receive the news that we were hoping for; however, he is showing us all that he is a fighter. He was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain bleed on the left, which has expanded from being only in the ventricle and is in the brain, and a grade 3 brain bleed on the right. This is on a scale of 1-4, with 4 being the worst. Jameson has continued to have brain ultrasounds every 2 weeks, which continue to show the amount and stage of bleeding to be the same and stable at this time. The ultrasounds also show that the midline of his brain has shifted right due to the amount of bleeding that occurred on the left.

Jameson’s doctor spent over an hour with us in his room when we got the initial brain ultrasound results. She is one of the kindest humans, as she comforted me as I fell apart. She advised us that there is no official way to know what long-term effects this may cause; however, they do know what it can cause, which is CP, blindness, and deafness.

We ask for any and all prayers and positive thoughts to be sent our way for my recovery and a safe and healthy NICU journey for Jameson.

Emersyn is happy to be a big sister, but she is understandably sad that she is not able to see Jameson in person.

On Monday, March 17th, Jameson had his first eye exam. This showed stage 0 zone 2, which basically means that the blood vessels behind the retinas are not developed. This is somewhat to be expected and is being monitored closely. He will have his second eye exam Monday, March 24th.

I was set to return to work on March 26, 2025, as my short-term disability ends on the 25th. However, due to my health, my doctors have strongly advised that I not return to work at this time. I have been able to mask from others and myself how much all of this has really impacted my own well-being until recently when it finally became too much to hide from.

Unfortunately, not returning to work comes with added stressors and concerns as we have bills and responsibilities that need to be taken care of. Will returned to work right away on February 2nd in order to try and keep us going; however, it is taking it’s own toll on him.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts as this is not something we expected to happen and definitely were not prepared for.