Danni's Birth Story as told by Mommy

Two weeks before Danielle's birthday, Adam and I scheduled a c-section. I really did not want to have a c-section, but there were less risks for Danni. And if I could make her life easier when she came into the world, I figured I could get through it. The closer May 17 came, the more excited I got to meet her (and to be done being pregnant... since I was having pelvic girdle pain, I was ready to be done!). But the more nervous I became. I was afraid that Adam wouldn't be able to be in the room when they gave me the spinal, and that's probably when I would need him the most.

Since it was scheduled for 1:30 in the afternoon, and I couldn't eat or drink anything (including water) for eight hours before, Adam and I decided to sleep in as late as we could so that it didn't seem as long. We got up about 9am, and showered and finished packing our bags. We had the car seat in the car and Danni's bag packed as well. Then we headed to my mom's house to pick her up.

When we got there, we went into the MAC, and they brought us to a room to wait for different doctors and nurses to prep us (well, mostly me) for surgery. I got dressed in the lovely hospital gown, and they brought in scrubs for Adam. The anesthesiologist and her nurse came in, other nurses came in, and Dr. Wothe (who was doing the c-section) came in to meet with us, and answer any questions we had. I got hooked up to an IV (but first gave me a local anesthetic, so that I couldn't feel it go into my vein), blood-typed, and shaved.

Since Dr. Fairbanks had mentioned to them that I needed to have Adam in with me when they did the spinal, they told me very quickly that he would not be allowed into the room, because the area needed to be kept sterilized, but he could come in once the drape was hung. Of course, I was rather upset and more nervous, but I tried not to think about it while we were waiting. The anesthesiologist told me that they would give me a local anesthetic before the spinal and that I should hold as still as I can. I told her that whenever I get blood drawn, I can hold my arm still, but I always arch my back.

Finally it was time to head to the OR, a nurse pushed my IV rack down the hall, and Adam and mom walked behind me. I kept looking back at Adam, and finally he came up to hold my hand. I was scared, and didn't want to walk into the OR without him. But, at 1:59pm, I did. I got up onto the table, and sat on the edge. The anesthesiologist was behind me, prepping my back, and her nurse was in front of me. I tried to put my head on her shoulder, but she said, "Oh just rest your head on my breasts." The anesthesiologist laughed at her and said, "What breasts, Anne?" We all kind of chuckled, and I made a comment about how mine are quite small too.

Then the anesthesiologist gave me a warning that she was going to do the local, and to hold as still as I could. I jumped and cried, and apparently the needle came out, but she told me later that she stuck me again, and I didn't notice. She said, "You were right, you do jump." (I learned a long time ago, that if you move your arm when they're sticking you, it hurts more, so I trained myself to keep my arm completely still, and only arch my back. So that's precisely what I did.)

Then she gave me the spinal, I was still crying a little, but I couldn't feel it. Then they quickly had me lay down. The nurse moved my feet up to the table, as I was already loosing feeling. They tilted the table slightly so that my left side and my feet were slightly lower. The drape was hung, and the nurse gave me oxygen (which I asked her to take off after a minute or so). They put a blood pressure cuff on my right arm, and tried to put a blanket on my left arm. I wasn't feeling well, and I think they thought I was going to throw up, because they put a little bucket right next to my head. It made me feel claustrophobic, so I asked her to move it.

Finally, Adam came in and held my hand. I started to feel a little more relaxed and closed my eyes to let my head settle down. Adam wasn't sure if I was feeling alright since I had closed my eyes , but I was starting to feel better, so I opened them back up. And soon after, the nurse, who we had given one of our cameras to, to take pictures of Danielle's birth, said that they were starting to pull her out. I couldn't really feel any pressure of them pushing down on my stomach to get her out, like they said I would. But, at 2:35pm, I heard her wail! Not for very long though, just enough to get some air into her lungs.

It seemed like forever before Dr. Wothe held her up over the drape for Adam and I to see. But there she finally was, beautiful, and not so happy, with a head full of dark hair! I cried at the sight of our beautiful baby girl, I couldn't believe she was finally here and so perfect. Dr. Wothe passed her off to the Children's doctors to put lines into her umbilical cord. They brought her to another room, through a door in the OR that I was in, and Adam and I could watch her through the window in the door. I could see a drape that they put around her umbilical cord, that covered her face. Every once in a while when it was quite in my OR, we could hear a wail from her in the other room. I wished Adam could have been in there with her, but just like they wouldn't let him in when they gave me the spinal, they wouldn't let him in with her (which is not what we were originally told).

Finally they were done working on her (and at that point, almost done stitching me back up as well), so Adam was allowed to go in. They wrapped her in a blanket and handed her to him. He carried her in to me, and as I watched him, he did not take his eyes off her. I had never seen him look so proud! He rested her on my arm, and I brought my other arm over to touch her. One of the nurses came and turned her more onto her side so that I could see her face. She was awake, and content. She stuck out her tongue a couple times, then opened her left eye to look at me, as I was talking to her. (I think it was so bright in the OR that she was squinting with her right eye).

They wouldn't let her stay for long though, but they were almost done with me also. Adam left with her, and on the way to the NICU, she was met by both of our parents and Fr. Joe. Adam's parents went with Adam & Danni to the NICU, and my parents stayed to wait for me.

It didn't seem like much more than 5 minutes, and I was being un-draped, and pushed down the hall to a recovery room. As we went down the hall, I saw mom and dad and waved to them. But they wouldn't let her in the room right away. As they got me settled, I could hear her out in the hallway. And soon they allowed her to come in, and she told me she got to see Danni Jo on the way to the NICU.

While I was in the recovery room, the nurse asked if I wanted some ice chips. Did I ever! So she brought in a cup with a spoon, and I started sucking on some, but quickly changed to chewing on them. Soon Adam came back and reported that they were doing the echo on Danielle's heart.

After about an hour of getting asked if I could move my toes, the nurse allowed me to go see my daughter, even though I still couldn't. So, with Adam, my parents, and Fr. Joe in tow, I was pushed to the elevators, down through the tunnels, and up into the NICU at Children's (across the street from Abbott).

When we got into her semi-private room, a nurse was working on her. I asked if I could hold her, but she said no. I couldn't sit up on my bed-cart, so I could barely see her. But when she finished working on her, she sat her up so I could see her. Danielle was a little fussy, and the nurse held a nuk in her mouth, and I stroked her cheek, and wiped away her tear. She laid her back down and she and my nurse stood "outside" Danni's semi-private room.

With me pulled up on my bed-cart next to her, stroking her knee (as it was the only part of her I could reach) and my parents, Adam, and Jeff gathered around, Fr. Joe, Baptized and Confirmed her. My parents were her proxy Godparents (but ended up being her Godparents in the end). We all made a cross on her forehead, and Fr. Joe poured water over her head. She didn't let out a peep, but just kept sleeping. When Fr. Joe asked if she had a saint to be confirmed, my mom suggested St. Theresa of the Roses, which is my grandma's (on my dad's side), my mom's and my confirmation saint. We agreed.

We stood (well everyone else stood, I was still trying to feel my legs) around at her crib-side for a while talking. I had been laying in the same position for a while and was starting to get uncomfortable (plus I was starting to get a little feeling back, so I could feel the uncomfortableness). I tried to shift my dead weight around, and actually moved a little. But I think that's what did it. My dad asked me a question, I couldn't even tell you what he wanted, but I told him to tell my nurse I needed a bucket. Unfortunately, it wasn't quick enough. I threw up all (well, not quite all) the ice chips that I had chowed down only a little while ago.

My nurse wheeled me out and took me back to my room that I would be staying in for the next couple of days. When we got there another nurse, from that floor, came in and helped me and the first nurse. They wanted me to move myself over to the bed from the bed-cart. I really didn't want to move myself, and told them that the movement is what made me throw up. The new nurse, wanted me to do it by myself without any help. But the other nurse commented about how I was small enough, and helped me by herself. And then helped me with a new gown. I sat/laid in bed for a minute, and the new nurse could tell I was going to throw up, so she held the bucket for me. Sure enough, I did again, but at least this time it was all in the bucket and not on my lovely new gown.

After Adam, my parents, and Jeff ate dinner, they came back up to my room. My parents and Jeff, just came back to say goodbye, and left shortly after the arrived. Adam wrote an email sharing the news that our baby girl was here. Then, I forwarded it onto the people on my account. But, we had had such a day that we soon went to bed.

Please feel free to leave us comments, if you wish! :)

Danielle's Funeral Information

Danielle Joann Gibson
5/17/10 – 5/19/10

Celebration Mass of Christian Burial
Monday 5/24/10
Visitation 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Funeral Mass 10:00 am

Holy Trinity Catholic Church
749 6th Avenue South
South St. Paul, MN 55075

Luncheon immediately following Mass
Lorraine Park Pavilion
756 3rd Avenue South
South St. Paul, MN 55075

Private Interment following mass
Resurrection Cemetery

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=Inver+Grove+Heights%2C+Dakota%2C+Minnesota+55076&msa=0&msid=100214073968739970202.0004872f4b5babde03de6&ll=44.880323%2C-93.04862&spn=0.01709%2C0.038581&z=15

Info About Danni's Surgery

Hello again. Update:

Danielle is doing well in the NICU. We spoke with the cardiologist today who told us everything that is wrong with her heart and everything they are doing to fix it. If you want to look it up, it is any and all of the following (and maybe a few more):

-DILV

-L-TGA

-Mitral Atresia

-Interrupted IVC

-Bilateral SVC

I found some info just googling those....

She is being moved from NICU to the cardiovascular care center (CVCC) tomorrow (5-19) morning (same building as the NICU (Childern's), 4th floor. Still have to get badged on 2nd floor welcome center before getting in). She will spend the day getting prepped for surgery which will happen (as of now) on Thursday (5-20) morning at 8:30. The surgery is expected to take up to 6 hours. Recovery time is unknown, expected is around 10 days.

Sarah and I will be in the family waiting area during the surgery, which is located in the CVCC. All are welcome to come hang out with us, we could use the support. We will probably bring games and there is a big TV to watch.....

Danielle's survival chance for this first surgery is around 80-85%, so prayers and well wishes are still needed!

Don't know all the rules of the CVCC yet. We do know that after she is intibated some time tomorrow (until 2 days after surgery or so) that there can only be 2 people in her room, including parents, at any given time. I would expect that she could have visitors tomorrow afternoon and evening, but no holding her at that point.

As always, I will update more as I learn it.

Our Newest Family Member!

Danni Jo is here! Born May 17, 2010 at 2:35pm, weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces, 19.25 inches long.

Her heart rate is where it has been at about 50 bpm, but holding steady. They could not get the tubes in her belly button (which they said often happens when there are only two vessels in the umbilical cord), so she has two IV's in her left arm. But, she likes to suck on her left fingers, and can't do that now, so I'm hoping that she soon finds her right hand. (Adam thinks she's going to be a lefty like him!)

Because of her condition and her surgery, we had her Baptized and Confirmed right away by Fr. Joe Gallatin (the priest who did our wedding mass). He came to the hospital and spent most of the day there with our parents, and then baptized her in the evening when I could be there too. My parents were her proxy Godparents (Adam and I still have to decide who will be her Godparents). Her Baptismal name is Joann (after St. John of God - the patron saint of heart patients), and her Confirmation saint is St. Theresa of the Roses (who is my, my mom's, and my grandma Eleanor's patron saint).

Fr. Joe Baptising and Confirming Danni Jo

Danni with her Baptismal bonnet and cross
bracelet (around her ankle). Her poor little
left arm is wrapped up with IV's in it.

I am doing pretty well also. It took a while longer than they thought for the spinal to wear off, so I didn't walk at all yesterday. Hopefully soon this morning, my nurse will come in to help me get up and walk. Then I can get into a wheelchair and Adam can take me over to see her, and Danni's nurse said I should be able to hold her today too!

Adam said this Facebook link to her photo album should work even if you don't have Facebook. If you would like to see more pictures of her give it a shot!

Introducing Danielle Joann!

She's here & she's beautiful! Check out the pictures on Facebook or if you don't have an account, check out her blog...
http://danielle-joann.blogspot.com
We'll try to keep both updated with her progress & let everyone know when her surgery is!

Danielle Joann Gibson is here! Born 5-17-2010 at 2:35 pm. Weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 19.25 inches in length. Mom is doing wonderfully, resting now. Danielle is doing about as expected, we are waiting for a chat with the cardiologist to determine when her surgery will be. As for now she is holding up well, vitals are good, heart rate is a bit low, as expected. She is over in the NICU.

Sarah will be in room 5475 until Thursday or Friday when they determine that she can leave. If you want to visit, her number is 612-863-2534. Over here in this part of the hospital we are allowed to have our cell phones, so if you need to call you could try any of those. If there is no answer, and cells go to voicemail, we are probably over in the NICU visiting Danielle.

Danielle is in room 70 in the NICU. THe phone number over there is 612-813-5334. That will probably be the best way to get ahold of us over there. Keep in mind that the phone doesn't ring, only blink, and it is in an awkward place, so may or may not be seen. I plan on bringing the laptop so could answer emails too, but phone may be a better bet. Please feel free to set up a visit.

Pictures are here! You should be able to see them by following the link, even if you aren't on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=168930&id=500454441&l=445dfbcc1e

Visiting Danielle in the NICU

We would love for you to come meet the newest member of our family!

Since cell phones are not allowed to be turned on in the NICU, Danielle has a room phone where you can call us (612-813-5334). Please call ahead of time to make sure that one of us is there when you come to visit, otherwise they won't let you in. If no one answers, you can call my room, as Adam may be visiting me in the other building (612-863-2534), but we would love to head over to her room to introduce you to our baby girl.

Getting to Children's Minneapolis:
Here is a link to Google maps.

Parking at Children's Minneapolis: (taken right from their website...)
The best way to enter Children’s - Minneapolis is through the skyway which connects the hospital to the parking ramp. The main entrance to the parking ramp is at 26th Street and Elliot Avenue. You also may enter the ramp through the medical office building parking lot, off Chicago Avenue. After parking, go to Level D and follow signs to the skyway entrance.

Parking fees are posted at the ramp entrance. State permits are required for designated handicapped accessible parking places. Valet services are available. A limited number of free and metered street spaces also are available on nearby streets.

The NICU Rules: (some of them are to help stop spreading infections... remember she has no spleen, so for her it's really important!)
-Visiting hours are from 9am until 9pm
-Two to four visitors at one time in the room (not counting Adam & I)
-Adam or I must be there
-Do not come if you have symptoms of illness
-May need to show ID
-No jewelry (rings, watches, bracelets)
-Must wash hands (up to elbows) for 2 minutes before coming in and use waterless hand sanitizer before handling Danielle
-No children under 5 (5-11 years old may be asked to wear a mask)
-Cell phones must be turned OFF - not silent (could interfere with all the stuff she's hooked up to)
-No plants, flowers, or latex balloons
-No artificial nails (strange, I know, but I guess they've linked it to the spread of some infection... they also had to include for Adam & I that we cannot sleep in her crib with her... kind of makes you wonder what kind of stories they have!)

What's in a name?

When Adam and I first found out that our baby had heart problems, we looked up the patron saint of hearts. We found that St. John of God was the patron saint of heart patients. Since we thought we were having a boy at first this worked out well, but once we found out we were having a girl, we found that Joann, Joanna, and Joan are female variations of the male name John, so we wanted to work that into her name somehow, but we didn't want to use it as a first name.

One evening, when I was about 7 months along, we were discussing names, trying to come up with a first name that we both liked, and that sounded good with Joann as a middle name. Adam threw out the name Danielle among others, but it was the only one that I liked. We tried saying it a couple times "Danielle Joann," "Danielle Joanna," "Danielle Joan." We liked the sound of Danielle Joann, so we started referring to her as Danielle or Danni instead of "Baby" which we had been doing for so long, just to try it out and see if we liked it. And the name stuck!

Danielle is Hebrew meaning "God is my judge" and Joann is English meaning "God is gracious."