#Kaisonstrong
Donation protected
Short recap of Kaison’s story thus far! #kaisonstrong
Natalie and Jonathan found out they were having a baby boy, Kaison, on May 12th when she was 15 weeks along! Another precious boy to add to their then family of four.
On 6/14/18 they went in for their anatomy scan! The ultrasound showed a healthy baby boy!....Every parents hope!
Fast forward several weeks- On 9/23/18 everything changed. Natalie began having contractions, she was only 34 weeks along. She thought they were just Braxton Hicks and that they would soon subside. The contractions continued, became closer together and intensified over time. This landed them in L&D at ARMC. Medical staff hooked her up to monitors and did a few other things and confirmed she was in fact in labor. Once her Doctor arrived he did an ultrasound on baby Kaison. He informed Natalie and Jonathan that Kaison had a large amount of fluid around his chest- heart and lungs as well as his abdomen and that he would require a higher level of care so they were transported to Duke via ambulance. This was such a shock as they had just saw a healthy baby boy with no abnormalities a couple months prior on ultrasound.
Once arriving to Duke they were immediately met by a high risk OB that did another ultrasound and found additional fluid around his skull. It was then that they confirmed and diagnosed Kaison with Hydrop Fetalis. This is a rare and life threatening condition in which severe swelling in the fetus develops. Only about 20% of babies diagnosed with hydrops fetalis before birth will survive to delivery, and of those babies, only half will survive after delivery. Kaison is beating the odds, we know God has a purpose for this precious boy!
On Monday 9/24/18, the decision was made to let Natalie continue to labor and not stop that process. After being in labor from Sunday morning to Monday night, Kaison was born at 34 weeks weighing 6lbs 8oz, but he most likely would lose about 2lbs after they drained fluid off. Jonathan was able to snap a few pictures of him and then Kaison was rushed to the ICN (intensive care unit for babies).
Kaison was intubated (had a breathing tube placed), had chest tubes placed to drain fluid off as well as lines in his belly button, IVs of course to administer all of his medications and an arterial line to monitor blood pressure.
Over the course of a week he has had many ups and downs. He will continue to be in the ICN for a while. They are unsure at this point what actually caused this condition and are currently doing tests to try and figure this out.
This family could use many prayers and positive vibes and that’s all they ask for. However, as a fellow medical Mama and friend of Natalie’s I have felt led to do this Go Fund Me page for their family. The gas from traveling back and forth daily from hospital to their home, food, parking, medical expenses, and not being able to work, etc. it all adds up super quick.
For those who have asked about monetary donations here is the place to do it or you can contact me (Carmen Braddy) directly through FB and I would be more then glad to get anything to their family.
Joshua 1:9
Follow #Kaisonstrong the FB page for updates! There is also a T-shirt fundraising happening now, more information about that on Kaison’s page!
Carmen Braddy
(FB contact: Carmen Gantos Braddy)
Natalie and Jonathan found out they were having a baby boy, Kaison, on May 12th when she was 15 weeks along! Another precious boy to add to their then family of four.
On 6/14/18 they went in for their anatomy scan! The ultrasound showed a healthy baby boy!....Every parents hope!
Fast forward several weeks- On 9/23/18 everything changed. Natalie began having contractions, she was only 34 weeks along. She thought they were just Braxton Hicks and that they would soon subside. The contractions continued, became closer together and intensified over time. This landed them in L&D at ARMC. Medical staff hooked her up to monitors and did a few other things and confirmed she was in fact in labor. Once her Doctor arrived he did an ultrasound on baby Kaison. He informed Natalie and Jonathan that Kaison had a large amount of fluid around his chest- heart and lungs as well as his abdomen and that he would require a higher level of care so they were transported to Duke via ambulance. This was such a shock as they had just saw a healthy baby boy with no abnormalities a couple months prior on ultrasound.
Once arriving to Duke they were immediately met by a high risk OB that did another ultrasound and found additional fluid around his skull. It was then that they confirmed and diagnosed Kaison with Hydrop Fetalis. This is a rare and life threatening condition in which severe swelling in the fetus develops. Only about 20% of babies diagnosed with hydrops fetalis before birth will survive to delivery, and of those babies, only half will survive after delivery. Kaison is beating the odds, we know God has a purpose for this precious boy!
On Monday 9/24/18, the decision was made to let Natalie continue to labor and not stop that process. After being in labor from Sunday morning to Monday night, Kaison was born at 34 weeks weighing 6lbs 8oz, but he most likely would lose about 2lbs after they drained fluid off. Jonathan was able to snap a few pictures of him and then Kaison was rushed to the ICN (intensive care unit for babies).
Kaison was intubated (had a breathing tube placed), had chest tubes placed to drain fluid off as well as lines in his belly button, IVs of course to administer all of his medications and an arterial line to monitor blood pressure.
Over the course of a week he has had many ups and downs. He will continue to be in the ICN for a while. They are unsure at this point what actually caused this condition and are currently doing tests to try and figure this out.
This family could use many prayers and positive vibes and that’s all they ask for. However, as a fellow medical Mama and friend of Natalie’s I have felt led to do this Go Fund Me page for their family. The gas from traveling back and forth daily from hospital to their home, food, parking, medical expenses, and not being able to work, etc. it all adds up super quick.
For those who have asked about monetary donations here is the place to do it or you can contact me (Carmen Braddy) directly through FB and I would be more then glad to get anything to their family.
Joshua 1:9
Follow #Kaisonstrong the FB page for updates! There is also a T-shirt fundraising happening now, more information about that on Kaison’s page!
Carmen Braddy
(FB contact: Carmen Gantos Braddy)
Organizer and beneficiary
Carmen Gantos Braddy
Organizer
Burlington, NC
Natalie Waddell
Beneficiary