I had just given birth less than 2 hours ago and was dead tired due to the sleepless night before and the fairly long labour. Hubby was just as tired too, watching all the events unfold and cheering me on. But we felt so happy & blessed to see our newborn baby. After the birth, i was allowed back to my room to rest. So, i happily prepared to go to bed, while the Hubby said he will wait because the nurse had told us earlier that a doctor was being called as Gabe had some low blood sugar.....we didn't know what that meant but thought "Oh, okay shouldn't be too serious".
Little did we know the nurse came into our room later and told us the doctor wanted to see both parents. That should have set off alarm bells, but i was so tired i cooudn't even think properly. So off we went to the nursery where Gabe was and they lead us to where he was. I was surprised to see him hooked up to a machine, and thought, is this the normal checking procedure? The doctor then came and told us that his oxygen levels are around 75% and that is not a good sign at all. She explained it in Japanese, but i had learnt basic Jap to know some words and heard "not good at all".....She told us he may have a defect with either his lungs or heart. My heart just sank hearing that...no, it's not possible....she then told us he had to be transferred to a hospital with an ICU. That's when we realised the severity of the situation and i just cried...I mean here's my baby, just born less than 3 hours ago, i was supposed to be holding him in my arms feeding him...not seeing him hooked up to some scary looking machine.
They informed us that an ambulance had been called and they would transfer him to Tokyo University Hospital, where they have specialists there. Hubby decided he would go with Gabe, but i had to stay back at the hospital. I could feel my heart breaking as they took Gabe away.
Went back to my room crying my eyes out. Could not sleep at all.
Next morning, i went to see him at the NICU, my poor baby. Hubby told me yesterdy the doctor said Gabe has a heart defect that involved a hole in the heart. More would be explained to us when the doctor arrived.
Dr Hayashi came and ushered us into the meeting room and told us that our son has a congenital heart defect known as Pulmonary Atresia with Ventral Septal Defect. In plain words, this means he has 2 problems associated with the heart:
1) Hole in the heart
2) His pulmonary valve was not functioning
So all this explains why his oxygen levels were low because the good blood carrying the good oxygen were not getting routed to his lungs. Terry & I were still digesting all these new information thrown to us and wondered how our son could have such a defect unnoticed and more importantly what was going to happen. We were still in a daze, i was turning into a zombie soon due to lack of rest n sleep.
Dr Hayashi told us that for the moment Gabe was being given medicine to keep his Ductus Arteriosus open to allow blood flow. This duct should have closed shortly after birth, but due to his condition, it's being kept open. Gabe would have to undergo an operation to insert an artificial shunt (BT shunt) to redirect the blood flow as the ductus cannot be kept open for long. The operation would be performed on 11th July 2011, depending on his health and weight, so it was crucial for him to drink as much as possible and gain weight. Then, he'd have to have another op before 1 yrs old to mend the hole in his heart.
Terry & I were just dumbfounded. All this on our baby, who was not even 1 month old yet. To say we were devastated would be an understatement. But, we'd have to take it one step at a time.
Gabe is later then transferred to the normal ICU as his condition was stable enough. So Terry & i ferry between home & the hospital. Before going to work Terry brings Gabe's milk to him, then in the evenings, he'd come pick me from home, then we'd go together with the evening's milk supply. We were allowed to hold Gabe and that made the tiring trips all worthwhile. I was determined to provide him with enough breastmilk to keep him strong, so i have been diligently pumping every 2 hours or so, and thank God for mummy who is here to help out, she's been making me papaya fish soup and many other drinks to boost my milk supply.
Gabe Sweetie,
Mummy & Daddy loves u so so much. You have to be strong & healthy for the op, Ok? drink lots of milk, Mummy is a capable cow, dun worry. I'll make sure there's more than enuff milk for you.
We can't wait to bring you back home soon. We pray for you everyday, hoping that your condition will stay stable and the operation will be successful.
We miss you everyday, can't wait to have u back home baby
Luff
Mum & Dad
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