Gabi's Story!!!

GABRIELLA SCOTT
BORN MARCH 16, 2010
7LBS 3OZ 19 1/2 INCHES LONG



My sweet baby girl was born 11 days ago! I can't believe it, I went into labor on monday night around 11pm my contractions started out about 20 mins apart and by 2am they were about 2 mins apart. I was really worried about going to the hospital for fear they would tell me I wasnt ready and them sending me home so we waited till about 3am when I couldnt handle it anymore! When I arrived I was about 4cm and my contractions were about a minute apart, I really wanted the epidural at that point! Mainly so I could breath again! Once the drugs kicked in it was smooth sailing it slowed down my contractions but I didnt feel a thing so I didnt care! I was able to take a nap and relax until it was time to push. i pushed for about 45 mins and my precious baby girl was here. I remember her faint little cry and her bright purple body and Brittany telling me that she was cuter than she ever thought possible! I was happy! Gabi wasnt breathing well so they told me they were going to take her to the NICU to clear her lungs and they were bring her back down when they were done. I wasnt worried at all. I knew things like that were fairly common and that she was in good hands. They wheeled me up to the NICU before I was moved into my new room and Gio was sitting with her they whole time. He is such a good daddy!



Gabi started out with some medication for her lungs and oxygen. After hours of no change they decided she needed to be put on a ventilator. He lungs were much sicker than they ever thought. I was in my room and Gio had been upstairs with the baby for hours. Around 5pm Gio walked in with a nurse and he looked like he had seen a ghost. My heart sank and I knew that something was wrong. Gio didnt say a word, The doctor started talking and it is all a blurr. I know she said that Gabi was very sick and they were looking at all kinds of things to figure out what was wrong. She mentioned that they would test her for Down Syndrome because she had some physical signs of it and that could be an explantion to why her lungs were so sick. I felt like puking and I was hoping that it was all a bad dream that I would wake up with my healthy baby and we would be a happy family. I could not comprehend having such a sick baby after I had the easiest pregnancy and delivery. It didnt make any sense. They told me I could go up and see the baby (which at the time she had no name) I really didnt want to but i did any way because I am her mom and she needed me no matter how I felt.



When I saw Gabi she was full of tubes and IVs and machines all around her. I thought that she was one of the healthier babies up there because she was full term and big compared to most of the other babies in the NICU. The doctor told us right away that Gabi was very very sick. They said she was by far the sickest baby in the NICU. I really didnt understand how any of this could have happened she was healthy my entire pregnancy, how could this happen? I could only look at her, i couldnt touch her or talk to her. I think partly because I didnt want to loose it with my emotions, and the other part of me didnt want to get attached. If something were to happen I was putting up my wall. They next day we found out her lung had colapesed in the night and that she was still very critical. They said that if things continued to get worse they were going to life flight her to Primary Childrens. I really didnt want that to happen. I knew that ment she was worse than I wanted her to be and I felt like the most helpless person in the world. When we saw her the next day she was washed up with her hair done and a Green bow in her hair for st. patricks day. I was hoping for the luck of the irish was on my side that day.



Gabi looked so cute but it was also very noticable that she was getting fatter and fatter from all the fluids they were pumping into her. She was swelling alot and she looked very uncomfortable. Throughout the day is was very up and down. One minute they had her on 100% oxygen the next it was at 60% when we got a little bit of good news it was shut down again. It was a very rollor coaster kind of day that messes with your emotions like nothing I have ever felt before. At 4 am the next morning the Doctor called me and told me that they were going to life flight her. They had run out of options and she needed to have the extra care at Primarys. Gio I and decided to go and say our goodbyes,(even though I really didnt want to see her like that, I didnt want that to be the last image in my head) Gio decided to drive up to the hospital and be with Gabi. I was supposed to be discharged that day so I called my parents and they came to take me up to primarys. As soon as Gabi got there they knew that she needed to be put on ECMO which is a machine that takes her blood out of her body and oxygentates it and pumps it back in. This would allow her lungs to rest and heal and also get some of the fluid off her that was putting pressure on her heart, lungs and brain. The machine was very intimadating and Gabi looked miserable.



We don't know the exact weight, But Gabi had at least 2lbs of fluid on her. She couldnt bend her fingers or toes and her diapers wouldnt fit. She was also very very pale. It was hard to see her that way.



This is all the machines she was hooked up to. Im really glad that the doctors and Nurses now how that all works because she had so many tubes and cords and drugs going in her that I couldnt keep it all strait. Once Gabi was put on ECMO she stablized very quickly. She was about the same for about 4 days but we never heard that she had gotten worse so we felt very good about that. They assured us she would get better it would just take time. Once she was off the machine and her lungs were getting better then she had to be weened off the pain meds. This can be the hardest part, She is on morphine, versed, and methadone all very addictive. She will have to go through a withdrawel process that can take weeks sometimes. Gabi was on ECMO for 5 days. She did very well.



The red tubes are part of the ECMO machine. The canulas go in her neck and down her vein above her heart in two places one takes the blood out the other puts it back in... yes they are as big as they look, and yes the red is her blood not a red tube. SCARY!

They day they took her off we also got the chromosone test back confirming that she has Down Syndrome. I had been praying and praying for her to get well and when we found out about the downs it was a barrel of mixed emotions. I couldn't be mad because it explained why her lungs were so sick and I know that it is God's will that she is here. She has blessed so many lives already and I know that she has a special plan for all of us. Every one says that no one could handle this better than me and Gio. I'm not sure if i feel that way but I will do my best! I love her so much and it is overwleming knowing that I was blessed with this perfect baby in every way. She has changed our lives and she doesnt even know it yet. She has brought so many people together, so many people have prayed for her and been touched by her and they havent even met her. I know that the impact that she will have on people will be extrodinary and as her parents Gio and I will be forever greatful to have been chosen to raise such a special girl!



Finding out about the Downs has been an adjustment but the support of all our family and friends has been amazing. Everyone is so excited to have her in there lives and I have been told that she is now the "Favorite!" She can have a normal life and we will treat her as such, she can do anything she wants to do and we will make sure that she is given the oppurtunities that any other kid would have. I can't dwell on the what if's we will take things a day at a time. I really don't know how raising Gabi will be different from raising any other child because she is my first so this is a learning process anyway~ Gabi conitues to progress each day. Her swelling is almost all gone so she looks little again! and she is getting closer and closer to be taken off the vent. She hasn't had to be sedated as much and they took her off the paralyzer so she can move, The first toe flinches were so great to see and now she yawns and stretches and kicks! she even tries to cry even though no sound comes out because of the tubes in her throat, but its still adorable! I was able to wash her hair the other day and she opened her eyes up and looked around! you could tell it felt so nice to have her head rubbed and lifted for a minute. Laying in one spot for 10 days has to be uncomfortable.

She is the CUTEST thing Ive ever seen! Gabi Loves to suck on her tubes in her mouth and stick her tongue out! She gets all foamy at the mouth but its so cute! This is the first time we really saw Gabi awake and moving around! It is soo good to see~


Gabriella means God is my stregnth, I didnt realize that until after we found out about the Downs. I remembered that I liked the meaning so at lunch that day I looked it up. I immediatly broke into tears. Her name is perfect and everything that I feel. So many things have fallen into place, so many prayers have been answered, and so many people have showed so much love and support that I know God is watching over us, He is my stregth and he has blessed me with an amazing Daughter. He has also blessed me with an amazing family and friends, and especially husband~ I could not do this without any of you. Gio is the best daddy already and I know that we can get through anything together. Gabi will always be a constant reminder of love in our home, She makes me want to be better spiritually, emotionally, and physically. She is a perfect daughter of god and I will never live up to her perfection but she makes me want to do the very best I can. She is heaven on earth and I have the privledge to be her Mother and have her with me forever~ That is the best gift I have ever recieved! I love my Little Miss Gabi Girl!