Good Morning! I just talked to Ryan’s nurse and he is doing well. Henry and I have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House but came home last night to grab clean clothes. I wanted to share a little bit about the day Ryan was born. I do baby books for all my kids and always include the story of their birth. For the men who aren’t into details, this may be boring, but I’m guessing most the moms out there are dying to know how everything went down, so here goes. Warning: this is a lengthy post.
The morning of the c-section, I was not allowed to eat or drink anything which wouldn’t be a problem except I suffered from morning sickness almost the entire pregnancy. I fought nausea the entire way to the hospital and ended up vomiting two or three times pre-surgery while being prepped. Poor Henry basically caught it in his hands while trying to get those tiny little pink half moon thingies under my mouth. After all the prepping, my OB went through what to expect, the risks, etc. I thought, oh, this nice…to have a review.
Then, the anesthesiologist stepped up and started with his procedure, risk, etc. I kid you not, we had about 6 doctors file through and give us what their role was (pediatric anesthesiologist, backup anesthesiologist, back-up OB, nurse, back-up nurse, pediatric something-a-ruther). On and on it went, I started to feel like a deli with people taking numbers to get their turn. There was quite a turn out for Ryan’s birth. Henry mentioned before there were about 30 people between two ORs for the delivery.
They finally wheeled me back to the OR and my anxiety level was rising. We went into a cold, sterile, white room and I just couldn’t get over how unnatural everything was. (I’m totally into natural childbirth for those that don’t know me.) The anesthesiologist showed me the correct position to sit and started cleaning the area where he would place the spinal block.
I’m not going to lie. I was scared. Not of the spinal – I’ve had an epidural before. Scared for everything to start. Ryan was coming out and this is where the rubber met the road in terms of my faith and reality. I started crying into Henry’s shoulder, telling him how I was feeling. He tried to comfort me and tell me it wasn’t a big deal. Yes, dear, no big deal. We’re only just about to have a baby with HIS HEART STICKING OUT OF HIS CHEST!
Next, they laid me down and started prepping my stomach for surgery. Meanwhile, my heart starts racing and I think, If this baby was healthy, I would roll off this table, out of this room, and do this naturally. This cannot be right. I couldn’t hear the beeping of the monitor since I was busy having a panic attack, but I think the anesthesiologist might have noticed the marathon I was running because he said, “How we doing?”
“Anxious, I’m very anxious. I don’t think I can do this. You might have to sedate me and I’M NOT KIDDING.”
Henry says I also said, “Get me off this table” which I thought I edited out since that is exactly what I was thinking, but apparently that slipped out too. I need to learn to hold my tongue.
Henry looked at the doctor with deer-in-headlights eyes non-verbally asking, what now? The anesthesiologist simply turned a little knob all the way up while I proceeded to vomit on Henry again. Poor, Henry, he definitely gets the gold star for clean up duty.
Soon, I was sitting pretty, feeling as relaxed as a lizard on a hot rock. I thought to myself, I could actually fall asleep. This is so weird. I just had a panic attack, vomited on my husband, and now, I could literally fall asleep. Why am I so calm? More surreal thoughts kept swarming through my head.
“We’re just going to do some testing now.” my OB said. I don’t know how they test you, but they do something to see if you feel any pain. No pain, just pressure. Dead legs, dead abdomen, dead torso.
Soon they began the operation (a c-section is a major operation, people) and I started counting the minutes. It was about a fifteen, maybe twenty minutes later that they really started working hard. “Get the camera ready, dad.” Says the OB. A couple minutes later, Henry’s snapping pictures and I hear the faintest of cries.
My baby cried. Three times I think. Like a little weak kitten, but they were cries. I wept out of relief. I wept out of joy. But most of all, I just wept.
This is getting way too long, but I will tell you, the pediatric team whisked Ryan away and spent several minutes trying to revive him. While he was able to take his first few breaths, his lungs were not able to continue breathing. The team was unsure at first that he would make it at all. The cardiologist (who had a ‘gut’ feeling we should deliver at Children’s) told us later she is positive Ryan would not have survived if we had delivered at Hospital Center. The team had everything they needed at their fingertips for the unanticipated, but planned for crisis. We are so thankful that God gives people ‘gut’ feelings. We thank the King of Kings that he saved our little king, our little Ryan.
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Comments (18)
Thank you for sharing your story! We are happy to hear Ryan is doing well and does not need immediate surgery. We will continue to pray for your family.
-Brent and Julie
Happy 1 week birthday Little Ryan. We love you.
Thank you for sharing. I could relate to the c section part. Not fun. But you made it.
I am so glad Ryan is doing well. We will continue to pray for the little king.
Happy 1 week Ryan and may you have at least a million more. Thanks for sharing and being so transparent, we are praying for you all every day.
Leighann and Henry…First of all I want to congratulate you on the arrival of your ‘little king’! I have briefly read through your blog after being sent over by Happy Hearts. I too am a heart mom and will keep Ryan in my prayers. Things can get overwhelming and difficult at times, please know that there are people that you have never met that are praying for your family and your sweet Ryan. I look forward to following your journey with you…”If God brought you to it, He will bring you through it”. Best wishes…
Shannon Mason
p.s. Do you mind if I add Ryan to our blog so that other heart families can reach out and offer prayer and support as well?
that was NOT too long. i’m in tears. yes, praise God for “gut” feelings…thanks for sharing all that!
Leighann, Ryan’s story never fails to bring me to tears! God is so amazing for giving us the Holy Spirit to give us gut feelings.
The little King is in the hands of Big King Jesus! Love & Prayers, Marmi
YEAH RYAN! yes.. I can totally understand your c-section story having three myself, I go through that everytime except My husband pretty much passed out on the last one and had a nurse assist him out of the room only to come back and sit on the floor for a while. Henry defintetly gets a GOLD STAR! I am sure it was hard for him to stand there not being able to help his wife…
I am so glad to hear you are healing well and have no problems!!
and of course We will pray for the Big Sisters as well.
Just reading that made me tear up! Leighann God brought you this baby for a reason! I can’t wait to see how he progresses!
Keep faith!
Happy 1 week birthday Ryan!!!!
We are praying for you guys.
Love, Marshall & Melissa
what a week – it feels like we should at least be at one month, but all in time! Happy ONE week, ryan. much love, amy
Happy 1 week Ryan! What a strong little boy you have already! May God continue to bless him, his parents and sisters.
You had mentioned you where staying at the Ronald McDonald house. Who’s been taking care of the infamous vomitting cat?
Dear Anonymous,
The vomiting cat is being checked on and fed by friends. Thank you for your concern.
Leighann
Leighann-thank you for sharing all those details. John and I continue to pray for all of you. I hope we can meet face to face sometime when we are up to visit that area in the summer.
love
Erin and John
Thank you for sharing your story… you write with such humor and whit! I loved reading it and it will be a treasure for your family in years to come.
I too had to have a c section for medical reason adn they also had to put me completely asleep… I was scared to death adn my husband was not allowed in the room with me. Oh, how I had my faith tested that day our 3rd son was born. Thank goodness the King of Kings always shows up for his precious children!
Happy one week birthday little Ryan! We are thankful for all of your updates and we continue to pray for you all.
This entry in particular brought tears to my eyes. Despite all the obstacles and rough times, you seem to be handling everything with a level head, immense strength, and a sense of humor. We’ve been thinking of you often and of your amazing family.
Your in out thoughts and prayers….and in God’s hands