Makayla Caitlin Murray
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This here is our beautiful daughter Makayla. She was born February 7TH, 2002 at 26 weeks and weighed 2lbs 1oz. She was so tiny and precious! But as beautiful as she is, she came into the world too early and a lot of complications followed. Makayla was hooked up to a ventilator to help her breathe when she was born. Makayla also has a Trach, Chronic Lung Disease, Vocal Cord Paralysis, some Hearing Loss (which I think is improving from when they did the hearing test), and she is G-tube fed.
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Makayla is also Oxygen Dependant. When Makayla was born she had low hemoglobin so she required a few blood transfusions. At two months old, Makayla had laser eye surgery due to Stage 3 Retinopathy of Prematurity. Her eye sight is good now! She loves to watch everybody and smile!
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At three months is when she got her trach, which was due to Subglottic Stenosis which is a narrowed airway. When ENT did the surgery in May they said they would review it and it might be out in a year. It’s now November ‘02, Makayla is nine months and still in the hospital. She came home for the first time in August, but we got re-admitted due to breathing difficulties and she had caught a cold that I had at the time. Well, we have tried to get her home several times since with little success. By day three she’s back at emergency and if we're not admitted then, two or three days later we are. She keeps having to go back in due to breathing difficulties and requiring more oxygen. We have moved, got rid of the cat I had for nine years and got the ducts cleaned too. We are out of ideas on what we can do. She most recently went back in after six days for breathing problems and vomiting. Within a few days she should be home again and I guess we’ll see what happens. Christmas is coming and I hope she is settled in here by then.
The past nine months has been very difficult for me. It is very stressful dealing with everything. I never imagined I would have a child with special needs and it is not something you can prepare yourself for. I’ve just learned to deal with it, take one day at a time and as hard as it all is, I’m just thankful she is still here because I love her and her beautiful smile so much.
Update, December 2003: Makayla is now 21 months old and weighs 18lb 12oz and has been home for one year now with no more in and outs. She's doing great. We find out Dec. 3 if her vocal cord paralysis is fixable and if we can look towards her trach coming out in the near future. Makayla is taking a little bit of food by mouth, such as cheesies and french fries but she is still g-tube fed q4. Makayla just got off her oxygen during the daytime but she requires 1L at night still. Her motor skills are good. She crawls everywhere and cruises while holding onto furniture. She is such a beautiful, happy little girl!!!
