My Little saint Thomas

Posted On Wednesday, April 20, 2011  by Eunamia

It all started on the 1st April afternoon,  at 14h00 I was chatting with some colleagues at work, then by 15h00 I had this sharp pain below my rib cage , I felt nauseas and somewhat light headed. I asked a colleague to take me home. I called my gynae on the way home, who then told me to take a panado and have some rest, she thought it was just baby stretching.

Shortly, after I got home, fortunately my husband was home and he phoned my gynae again and took me in to see her. After seeing me, she then said I should be admitted in hospital because of my high blood pressure. She also ordered blood tests.

Whilst in hospital that evening, my gynae came to speak to my husband and I and informed us that my condition was a lot more serious than she thought it was. I was diagnosed sever preeclampsia , my liver enzymes were 10 x normal range and my urine had 3+ protein.

She told me that I would have to have a c-section in the morning if my condition did not improve. I still did not quite get the serious on my condition , because it was the first time that I really learnt about preeclampsia and I was still hopeful that I would be discharged from hospital the next day and be able to carry my baby to term. He was only 25 weeks; the prospect of contemplating anything else was just beyond my reality at that stage. My 1st pregnancy was absolutely fine and my little girl is now 2yr 10 months.

On the Saturday morning 2nd April, when they told me I would be having the c-section, we were distraught knowing that the chance of survival for the baby was 50%.  My little angel was delivered at 750grams and all went well with him and I.  Little Thomas was stable, although in NICU, for the two days after.  It was only then, that I learnt I actually had HELLP syndrome, which was the first time I had ever heard of.

Our world came crushing around us on Monday evening when the Paed. informed us that after they conducted the bran scan, they have discovered category 3 brain bleeds. We then had little Thomas baptised on the Tuesday. This was so heartbreaking, yet I was still hopeful that a miracle would take place. On Tuesday evening, we were informed that the brain bleed had deteriorated was now classified category 4. Everything was too much for his little body , his kidneys were not functioning properly , his breathing was because of the ventilator and they also said that he had started having seizures. His little body was breaking down. On the Wednesday evening , after so many tears and consultations with drs., my husband and I then made a decision that no parent should make. We decided to inform the hospital to start withdrawing support, as they informed us that the equipment was basically still keeping him alive.

On the Thursday morning 7th April, our little saint, Thomas passed away and this was when I realized that there was no miracle going to take place. I had lost my baby and I still cannot believe how my life changed so much in a week.