Doctors couldn’t help screaming when they realized how this baby was born. Even though challenges in life are not fun, there is good news. God gives your struggles and trials, meaning he uses them to grow you to shape you to make you a better person. The hard times in your life may not be fun, but God can turn your problems into a miracle and make your mess a masterpiece. Trust God don’t give up on your challenges, but trust God to get you through them.
A swift diagnosis of infant botulism by Pediatric Group of Monterey, pediatricians saved the life of young Emmett, Weldon Smith. Infant botulism is a rare and potentially fatal illness caused by a toxin that affects the nerves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, CDC Elizabeth Weldon Smith knew something was off when her four-month-old son Emmett started drooling and behaving differently. I thought he was teething because he was drooling and he didn’t want to eat, and then he just had a really horrible night, where he was clearly very upset. She recalled, spurred by her mother’s intuition, Elizabeth decided to call the after hours nurse for her pediatrician.
Sarah Liu MD at the Pediatric Group of Monterey that call led to an officers that the next day with Dr Liu, who examined Emmett, she agreed that something wasn’t right with the baby and referred them to the local emergency room. I felt that something was wrong with Emmett from his mother’s story and upon observation of Emmett, Dr Lou explained. The things that stood out to me were his inability to feed is moaning in the office. We cry his lack of other features that are typical of a viral illness. He had no fever, he had drooling but no significant cold symptoms because of the botulism he wasn’t able to handle his secretions.
I knew in my gut that something wasn’t right, but it wasn’t a typical illness that we see every day that was clear to me and then sent him to the ER for further studies. Doctors in the emergency department were searching for an explanation for Emmett’s symptoms when Kirk Mulgrew MD another doctor at the Pediatric Group of Monterey stopped in to check on the patient.
Dr Mulgrew immediately suspected that the problem was infant botulism based on his text with Dr Liu and his experience with it as a resident, and he had airlifted to Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. I felt that if we got him to Stanford quick enough, if they could see him prior to intubation and get a sense of the diagnosis and possibility of botulism or not get, treatment, started right away and intubate him, if necessary, with their own pediatric specific ICU team. In Ventilator equipment, I think that allowed him to get the anti-toxin much sooner so Dr Mulgrew, once Emmett was at Packard Children’s.
The diagnosis was confirmed and the health care team was able to have the antitoxin used to treat the botulism flown in right away. Emmett’S Father Mark Weldon Smith was impressed with the level of care his son received at the hospital. When I think back on what we went through. The support was so overwhelming, didn’t matter which person walked through the door, they all seemed to have the same level of care and investment in Emmett. He said he also credits, Dr mulgrew’s actions with saving his son’s life.
Thank God, Dr Morgan was insistent because the longer you wait, the longer the recovery period can be and the higher the risk of mortality due to respiratory failure, even one extra day, could have meant months longer recovery for their nerve endings to rebuild. It was just incredible: everybody made the right call at the right time the CDC reports that the effects of Botulism can last for months, and sometimes the damage can be permanent.
However, Emmett made a full recovery and was able to leave the hospital in less than two weeks with no lasting effects. His father is grateful that the quick diagnosis saved Emmett from potentially months of Rehabilitation. The fact that we got him up to Stanford so quickly meant we avoided that whole Rehabilitation process, the neurological team that assist him at follow-up appointments just a month or so later said it’s like.
He never had it. He wasn’t only not behind developmentally. He was ahead. Somehow Mark said, Emmett’s mother also reflected on how the doctors at the Pediatric Group of Monterey responded to her concerns. Dr Mulgrew literally saved my child’s life he advocated for us, as did Dr Lou, we weren’t treated like we were crazy.
We were supported and he knew that people were going to look out for us and making sure that Emmett got the best care possible. Elizabeth said, we were treated like parents with legitimate concerns that took us seriously and were amazing at keeping us very engaged in the process, and we were never pushed aside. We were part of his recovery in a really meaningful way. Some people called him an alien, but I saw him as a miracle. A baby with four arms and four legs has been born in Northern India, sparking awe and disbelief, and onlookers born in the shahabad community health center in uttar Pradesh, India on July, 2nd.
The baby weighed in at 6.5 pounds and appears to have an extra pair of both arms and legs growing out of his torso. The newborn has been celebrated as a miracle of nature, as news of the unique birth spread across the local area. According to the independent. Some have even suggested that the infant may be a Reincarnation of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is depicted as having multiple Limbs and it’s the goddess of wealth, Fortune power, Beauty, fertility and prosperity.
The baby is thought to have a condition called polymilia, which is an incredibly rare birth defect, causing the baby to be born with too many limbs. There are various forms of polymelia classified depending on where the extra limbs are growing from are the four observed types with limbs growing from the head, pelvis, thorax or backbone, respectively, while very uncommon in humans. Polymelia is seen at slightly higher rates in animals having been observed in cows, Buffalo chickens, frogs and fruit flies.
Polymelia is often caused by a genetic defect in the growing fetus leading to abnormal cell division and growth. Occasionally, one of a pair of conjoined twins may be absorbed until the other, leaving some of its limbs attached to the remaining fetus external factors may also plant to congenital defects like polymelia, for example, the drug thalidomide that was distributed as a morning sickness treatment in the 1950S caused it is estimated over 10 000 babies to be born with malformed, with too few underdeveloped limbs, half dying within months of being born.
According to research published in the Indian Journal of Humane genetics in 2013, Indian fetuses were at increased risk of birth defects due to a variety of factors, including higher maternal age. Lack of antenatal care, 22.8 percent of Indian pregnancies, did not receive any antenatal care. Maternal nutritional status and high numbers of contagious marriages in the population and saguinous marriages occur at rates That Vary between one percent and four percent in Northern India to as high as 40 to 50 percent in the South. According to the study, one of the biggest challenges it brought to life is learning to let go.
I realized that children absorb things in the environment and they may have Tantrums, they may be upset and they have their own ideas of what they want for themselves. I learned to let go of trying to turn him into what I want him to be and focused more on turning him into his best self and version of himself. I learned that my worries and projection of my worries for my child can actually backfire, as they may feel like they are living under the shadows of my expectations and may not feel capable of carrying the weight of these emotional projections. I learned to let go of trying to be a perfectionist to inch towards Perfection as a parent meant giving up peace of mind, and that’s just not worth it. The biggest challenge is thus the attempt to exercise control and the biggest Triumph is learning to.
Let go, of course, if he tries to harm himself, I will step in and he is constantly learning from my actions. I want to give him the freedom to be him fully him. What happened to his mom was totally shocked. It honestly feels like a lifetime ago. At the same time, the postpartum depression is present in my everyday life as little remainders of the darker days, which still exist all around me, the sign on the highway, the breasts that I wear every day, the resentment services and resurfaces at times the immense sadness and Guilt is overwhelming, I’ve always been self-sufficient, maybe to a fault.
My nature is to be the caregiver. I am the oldest child, the oldest of many cousins, a wife, a mama and an ICU nurse. Even my own mother always says I am the one she never worried about. Was it all just self-fulfilling prophecy, symptoms started during my pregnancy with my first Finn, this was a difficult pregnancy. Looking back, I believe I had undiagnosed gestational diabetes, as Finn was over 10 pounds when he was born, and I gained a steady 75 pounds before I birth.
I was swollen working full-time 12-hour shifts as an RN in the NICU and suffering through loud nights in Wrigleyville. As the Cubs played in the World Series, this mama was exhausted, physically and mentally and indefinite need of support from my loved ones, which, until the day of my due date, I felt I had 100 percent. Then everything shifted. My nine-year-old cousin was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma a cancer of the soft tissue of his facial sinus cavity on my due date to say we were all devastated. It was an understatement.
My family is very close-knit and came together for my aunt uncle and their family in an incredible way. I will never forget three days later Finn was born 10 pounds, one ounce of a hunk of a love and right to the neonatal Ico. He went from meconium aspiration and low blood sugars. This is where he spent the first week of his life, my family juggled time between visiting my cousin in his first round of chemotherapy at the adjoining Children’s Hospital. Incidentally, the same hospital where I work and seeing Finn in the NICU I quickly slipped into a postpartum, hypomania, barely sleeping wired and switching off shifts with my husband, but never feeling exhausted.
I actually felt like I had a good handle on things. This environment was familiar to me as NICU nurse, but I felt out of body almost as if Finn was a patient and not my own baby, then boom we were home Finn had tongue tie, my nipples were raw and bleeding. I want to latch him in the pain was so unbearable. I actually screamed get him away from me and I pushed him toward my husband’s lap. I resented myself I resented Finn.
I resented my husband for not feeling a bond straight away with a baby. I resented my family for supporting my aunt and her family during this unbearable time. I resented my friends who didn’t have kids and I could not voice it. I couldn’t say it out loud. I felt as if my pain wasn’t worthy.
You don’t have cancer, you can get over it. You chose to have a baby, many people can’t this is supposed to be the happiest time in your life. You have everything you have ever wanted. Why aren’t you happy snap out of it? I thought this time was supposed to be joyous, bring in a new life into the world.
It wasn’t. No one was checking in with me because on the outside I was fine. I always was remember, I’m the only one they didn’t have to worry about the support system. I always knew, as my own had crumbled below me. I felt guilty asking for help when I could also see the Deep pain and suffering of my family.
I couldn’t burden them with anything else. I went back to work in my child care or my mom fell through as she couldn’t commit to helping me one day a week. She had to have my aunt and be at her beck and call so to cut back at work and resign. My position, the one thing that got me out of the house and using my brain, not feeling trapped. The one thing that made me feel normal.
I slept deeper and deeper things escalated when I was only working three days a month. My husband was like a deer in the headlights, no idea how to deal with my mood swings my chronic crappiness, my exhaustion. Then I got my period and woo feeling much better hormone stabilized a bit. Jordan was a great sleeper. Why not add another one to the mix pregnant on the first try Finn was seven months old.
Let’S tell my family and the phone rings. My cousin’s cancer is spread, the chemotherapy isn’t working. What how I can’t do this again without them, but I just can’t ask for help. I am not worthy. I completely checked out.
I didn’t ask about my cousin. I didn’t support my family. I simply just couldn’t. I was frozen in depression. The two most joyous moments in my life were completely overshadowed and deep down.
I really understood, but I needed support and it just wasn’t available. I sung deeper and deeper into a depression. I was completely numb cancer. Is such a tangible disease confirmed by Labs Imaging effects from chemo? No one could see or quantify my PPD, and I could not work up the courage to speak to the depths of my suffering.
I wasn’t worthy my cousin passed a month later, my family rallied around my aunt and her family supported them. Unbelievably, the community came together so beautifully there. I was a shell, a ghost of myself, but I am not worthy. I have my child. They do not.
Their baby is gone forever snap out of it, I still carried so much resentment. How can they not say I’m suffering too? Then my daughter arrived, we didn’t know the sex beforehand and when the doctor said it’s a girl, I was absolutely terrified. I don’t know how to love a girl. What if she turns out like me and the cycle began again: hypomania depression, no bonding, not telling anyone more depression, crying all day, crying in the shower outbursts exhaustion, but unable to sleep, crabby Snappy, not responding to my friends.
My actions screaming for help. Why is no one helping me? Why is no one hugging me and telling me it’s going to be all okay, I’m not worthy the heaviness of the depression, slowly pulled over me like a down comforter. Just enough pressure to keep me from moving every day was a struggle. I would force myself to get out of the house and then I have crippling social anxiety and hurry home.
I couldn’t look at my parents in the eye. No one once asked me how I was doing the one they never worried about. I am not worthy, and then I got my period at seven months: postpartum whoo the depression lifted somewhat, but still lingered. I was feeling a bit better, but not back to myself. This lift gave the fog a bit of clarity I needed help.
I called my OB and started antidepressants that day I am worthy, so I’m reading this story may not truly understand how I could react the way I did during an incredibly hard time for my entire family. I write this story because I know there is someone out there experiencing a similar situation, not feeling worthy of expressing their suffering and a fear of burdening others. I’M here to tell you you are worthy my entire life. I was surrounded with a large web of support.
All around me, I am lucky to have never before struggled with mental illness, but what I have learned is a large support system does not make PPD impenetrable to you growing up in an affluent household and having everything you have ever needed and wanted doesn’t put you At an advantage have amazing friends, a caring partner, a best friend as a sister close relationships with your parents.
Healthy children, a happy home does not mean you’re not allowed to have PPD PPD does not discriminate. Ppd is ruthless. Pbd kicks you when you’re down PPD Whispers to you, your emotions are worthless. Your suffering doesn’t matter to others. Ppd makes you angry and yearn for the person you were before for the life you had before.
Ppd is now forever a part of me, but I will not allow pbd to make me feel I don’t matter the resentment I carried for so long has slowly lifted. I’M able to see more clearly why I felt the way I did for so long. I resented those I always expected to pull me out of whatever hard time I was experiencing, but I slowly learned the only person who was going to pull me out of what Darkness was me. I needed to make the change. Take that first step mama and ask for help it’s by far the hardest step.
You’Ll take. You can do it, I believe in you today I feel forever changed. I will never be the same person I was before, and I’m becoming at peace with that it’s been a slow process. I need to remind myself, it won’t happen overnight. More and more every day I see that I am worthy.
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