Meet our November Mighty Bee, Jacob. Learn more about his story from his mother below.
Let’s start from the beginning, tell us a little about your pregnancy.
We had been planning for a second child but it had taken months to get pregnant so although we were anticipating another child when it finally happened we were a bit shocked but very excited!
When did you find out you would have to spend time in the NICU?
We didn’t know. Everything was going perfectly until my water broke at 24 weeks. We did not initially know we’d have to spend time in the NICU. Honestly we didn’t even know what a NICU was.
I know the NICU is a roller-coaster of emotions, can you explain a little about your experience?
The hardest day in the NICU was a day when Jacob was deathly ill. His skin started to turn green, he was swollen all over, his hair was shaved on parts on his head from where they were trying to find a good vein to place an iv. The doctors called my husband and I in and had us sit in an office to ask us if we had any life insurance in place and to tell us they did not know what else to do. Jacob was on life support and they told us whenever we were ready to pull the plug just let them know. My husband and I left the hospital in so much pain. We went to our church and just prayed.
How was the transition of bringing Jacob home? Were you paranoid about germs and having other people around beside the NICU doctors and nurses?
The transition was very different than our first child. Jacob was on oxygen and our first child was only 2 years old. I’m not a huge germaphobe so I wasn’t paranoid about germs. Now dealing with COVID things may be a different.
When did you know that Jacob would need extra therapies?
We knew shortly after discharge if not before.
How did you hear about Bee Mighty and how has Bee Mighty helped Jacob?
Jacob’s school therapist introduced us to Bee Mighty and Bee Mighty has helped us get some equipment that we were unable to get due to issues with our Medicaid.
What does a typical day with Jacob look like now?
Jacob wakes up in the morning and I get him dressed for school. He has a wheelchair van that comes and picks him up and drops him back off at home after school. When he gets home one of us or his nurse will feed him in his g-tube. Two days out the week he has physical therapy. Then he baths and gets ready for bed. On the weekends we hang out as a family and enjoy his brother’s football or basketball games and then church on Sundays.
Any advice you would give another family going through the process? Anything that really helped you get through the experience?
The best advice I could give would be to take things day by day. Looking into the future and focusing on the what ifs can be overwhelming. It was easier for me to tackle each step of the journey as it came. On my rough days I just tried to think about the good things and not dwell so much on the struggles we were facing. I’d look at my baby and pull my strength from the love that I have for him. I’d use that love to help me be the best mommy for him that I could be. I made a vow that through his circumstances I’d give him the best quality of life possible.
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