I am thankful for the NICU staff who loved on my baby girl

I found out at in my second trimester Alyssa was going to be born with Gastroschisis. She was born in August of 2007 at 36 ½ weeks at 4 lbs 7 oz. She spent 68 days in Bronson’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). When I delivered her, they immediately took her to the NICU. I was able to hold her for the first time on day 7. She was not able to eat for the first 4 weeks (at least) and survived off of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). It was a back and forth process starting her with feeds and getting her body to accept it. During her stay in the NICU she also needed a spinal tap and a blood transfusion. Finally after the back and forth, she was able to come home. For the next few months, she was in and out of Bronson’s Childrens Hospital with severe reflux and ended up needing Nissen Fundoplication surgery. She also then got a feeding tube that we fed her through for a few months. Later on she received a Broviac IV that I would put her on at night time to help with weight gain. That was really a turning point for Alyssa, even though she did end up getting an infection in the IV line, she gained enough weight they were able to take it out and not put it back in. Alyssa is now 11 ½ dancing, playing soccer and leading kids in worship at Radiant!

We had a lot of wins and setbacks throughout the first year, but God never left us. He was faithful even when I had moments of hopelessness. I am thankful for the team of surgeons who operated on Alyssa each time, the NICU staff who loved on my baby girl throughout everything and affirmed me as a mom through this hard time.