Back to New Jersey

Been awhile since I've updated and I realize several of you don't look at our quick Facebook updates. So here's what's been going on. Haddie has been rolling along. 2 nights ago she had to have an exchange transfusion. She has Jaundice which is not a good thing. Basically the bilirubin in her bloodstream attacks her red blood cells. They keep that blue light on her to help her out. If the levels get too high it can cause brain damage...which is something Haddie definitely doesn't need. Her levels got a bit too high so they had to do the transfusion. There's a lot of risks for the transfusion but the reward outweighs the risks. It went well and so far her bilirubin levels have stayed low.

Our favorite time of the day has been going down and giving Haddie "mouth care". Kate pumps some milk and then we take it down to the NICU where Hadassah lives. We take a little Q-tip and dip it in the milk and let Haddie suck on it. She seems to like this.

Everyone asks how she is doing. Haddie is doing okay. She really has a long way to go and we don't know how everything will turn out. Today they once again explained the severity of her brain damage she suffered sometime after the fetal surgery. Level 4 on both sides of the brain they say. Might not be able to eat, breathe, or manage her heart on her own they say. It's not good they say. But they honestly have no idea how this will all play out. They don't know what complications she will have. Kate and I know she will have some. But we hope, pray, trust, and believe that we will bring her home some day. God brought us here for a reason. And if it's Kate and I's job is to raise a little girl with "complications"...well bring it on. It's a miracle that she is still alive. It's a miracle that she has proved that she can breathe on her own. She's a miracle...bottom line. And we love her no matter what.

Kate was able to be discharged this afternoon and now we are back at her aunt and uncle's in Hammonton, New Jersey. She's a bit sore and it will take a few weeks for her to get back on her feet. Our plan is to drive into Philadelphia once a day and spend a few hours with Haddie. We will also call the NICU at CHOP and they will give us updates as well. As far as timeline, we aren't sure how long she will be in there. She is premature, has a brain injury, and still has a surgery to remove what's left on the teratoma. So we know we will be doing this routine for a while. We know for sure that we will be here until her original due date which is August 8th. We just have to take it day by day and see what Haddie and the Lord decide. God is good.

We appreciate your continued prayers and support. Many of you have asked how you can help us. We are currently looking into that and will let you know. We appreciate all of the ways you all have reached out to us. Your prayers are what we covet most.

 Here's a video of Kate standing up and taking a good look at our daughter today.