After doing a second IVF
procedure to have a sibling for Alexa, their first daughter, Victoria Sansone
and Kenneth Nelson Jr. found out early on that they were having triplets. The
pregnancy went well until 24 weeks when Victoria was put on bed rest due to high blood pressure. At 27
weeks, it was determined that Victoria had HELLP Syndrome, and she was
flown by helicopter to UMMC in Baltimore to be treated. They held
off her symptoms by giving her steroids (Surfactant), which also helped
the babies prepare for their early birth.
At 28 weeks, Victoria’s symptoms
returned and because her life was at stake, they delivered the babies
immediately. Gabriella weighed 2.4 lbs., Zachary 2.8 lbs., and Jacob 1.4
lbs. Gabriella and Zachary were given surfactant immediately upon
birth. However, Jacob, the littlest, was showing no signs of distress and
was not given the medication, which lead to a series of medical problems.
Gabriella made it through with a
few infections and came home after two months in the NICU. Zachary had feeding
and swallowing issues but also quickly followed his sister home at two and a
half months. Jacob finally arrived home after spending over seven months
in the NICU and enduring four
surgeries. All three of the children wore apnea monitors for the first
year, and Jacob had oxygen until his first birthday. Today, thanks to
life-saving March of Dimes research and the
care they received, the triplets are 5 years old and are mostly healthy and
active.
No comments:
Post a Comment