Page 19 - Journey of Hope by Raymond Moldenhauer

DAY20 Heidi didn't get to hold Alyssa today as planned. She struggled a bit more than
usual during her noon care time, but recovered soon thereafter - so that Heidi and
Jim felt comfortable enough to leave and go to a late lunch. Heidi was to hold her
when they returned. But while they were away, Alyssa had a "lung and heart
episode" as the nurses told them upon their return. Her heart dropped to only 57
and she had to be "bagged" (manual venting of her lungs by the Respiratory
MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD Therapist). Needless to say, the time to hold Alyssa would need to be put off until
tomorrow. Heidi sent me a text message while I was at work, explaining that
It hardly seems possible that Alyssa has been with us now for 20 Alyssa was being a "stinker" today.
days! When you are with her in the hospital's intensive care
environment, each day seems like 20 days, and when you are Heidi and Jim returned to the Ronald McDonald House late afternoon to get a little
away, 20 days seems like only yesterday. rest before the next care time that was scheduled for 6:00 PM. Heidi wanted to be
there to talk, touch and sing to her - anything that would help calm Alyssa during
Now that she is on a regular feeding schedule (they increased it the changing of her diapers and the stoma bag, the suctioning, the various tests,
today to 3 ml every 3 hours), I'm sure we will soon begin to see and the repositioning of her in the incubator. We were very glad to get a call from
many changes take place over the next 20 days. Right now, her Heidi (I heard an ease in her voice before she said very much at all ) that the care
complexion is still a dark red color because her skin is so thin went very well this time. We are all beginning to think that Alyssa just wants her
(you see through it to the tiny veins and muscle tissue). Her mom, and knows how to get her there! Perhaps a personality is becoming evident.
skin is also very wrinkled yet (because it lacks baby fat) and
looks dry even though Heidi and the nurses put lotion on it. Yes, Alyssa is very, very tiny, and very premature, but she is a special and unique
Very fine hair still coats most of her body, but she doesn't little person with her own developing personality. She is a beautiful work of God
have eye brows or eye lashes yet. The hair on her head only and more precious than anything - even gold - even the gold from Jim's wedding
shows a hint of a blonde color and some of it is long enough to band that she can wear on her arm like an oversized bracelet.
stand up if it was permed against her bedding. She has long, but
very soft finger and toe nails, and she likes to grasp hold of a
finger, tube, or pacifier.
Since her very sudden birth almost 3 weeks ago, she lost 4
ounces, but with her recent feedings she has gained 7 ounces
back (and weighs in at 1 pound 15 ounces now). The back of her
hand (where tape for an IV tore a large portion of her skin away -
a large portion for such a tiny hand) has bruised, scabbed, and
then totally healed. Her ears are no longer flat against her head
as they were as a newborn.
She likes to sleep on her stomach or side and always with one
foot uncovered. She will hold on to her vent tube and suck her
thumb or fingers - no preference. She doesn't like all of the
handling and movement during her "care time" but will instantly
calm down when her mother gently touches her. She knows
Heidi's touch, voice, and smell. She responds to singing and soft
words with the very beginning of a smile. You can see her cry,
but can't hear her because of the ventilator tube in her trachea.