My brother's baby

amymom wrote: My niece Christina Maria was born at 6:13 last night .......... at only 12oz and 11 inches. She needs alot of prayers, she's a fighter. Please pray for her, her 6 yr old sister Kaitlyn, my brother, Bobby (her dad) and my SIL Jennifer.

The neo-natologist is cautious, but says she is fighting. Time will tell.

Thank you for all the prayers.

PrairieMom replied: Aw Man. They are in for a long fight now. Prayers that she stays strong.

youngmomofone replied: Oh no

boyohboyohboy replied: Many prayers!

grapfruit replied: Anne Marie, any news? Praying that little girl pulls through

amymom replied: She got past 24 hours so right now all is as good as can be expected. her arm is about the size of a medium safety pin. And her head about the size of a golf ball. She is still on the respirator. 24 hours is a big milestone. If she makes it 48 then we will know more. Also, they did some brain ultrasounds this morning and will give results to parents tomorrow. I am trying to put up her picture of her with the baptism gown.

It really is moment by moment. She is reacting to sounds and movements near her. She is moving her hands and legs which I guess are all good signs.


Edit to add photo:

mom21kid2dogs replied: Wow! So tiny!!!
Still Praying. Lit a candle at Mass for them this morning.

cameragirl21 replied: Wow, what a gorgeous baby! Prayers said!

mummy2girls replied: WOW she is so precious and tiny! Things like this really puts into perspective how lucky I am to have had 2 healthy girls... Im going to go hug them now.... PRAYERS going thier way and extra prayers for that precious little girl!

mckayleesmom replied: omg...she is so tiny but beautiful. Tons of prayers for this precious baby.

amymom replied: Thank you thank you thank you.

She is quite a fighter, so little, so precious. Her arm is the size of a medium safety pin.

Nina J replied: So tiny My thoughts and prayers are with your brother and SIL and their precious little girl, and of course with you Keep us updated!!

luvbug00 replied: Keeping your family and this precious baby in my thoughts! what a sweet miracle.

PrairieMom replied: Ann Maire, she will be on the ventilator for a really really long time. We are talking weeks. You should be reassured tho, that she isn't on an oscillator, which is a kind of advanced life support. She must be doing pretty good! Micro preemies are so scary. Everything is minute by minute for them. I used to work in our ICN running those breathing machines. I hated it. SO scary.
Saying prayers for her!

My3LilMonkeys replied: She is gorgeous!! I can hardly fathom a baby that size...she's just so small! Many prayers for you, her & her whole family.

A&A'smommy replied: awwww she is beautiful!!! I will keep her in my prayers!

CantWait replied: Lots of prayers. Just seems so unfair

amymom replied: Thanks all, She has hit the 48 hour mark.

Christina is tough, doing as well as we can hope. Basically the doctors are doing every test they can to monitor her and give her the best chance possible. She's the smallest baby ever in this hospital, and apparently one of the 10 smallest humans in the world right now.

My brother (her dad) did some measurements today, her feet are 2 centimeters. That is less than an inch.

Thank you for all the prayers. Please keep them up. She will need them all!

PrairieMom replied:
She actually looks big in that baptism dress. We have saved 23 week olds at our hospital. It can be done. We usually say to not expect to go home before their due date. Yeah for her hitting the 48 hour mark!

amymom replied: Tara, I want to ask you, My sister was there today when the neo-natologist was speaking with my brother so this is second hand info. She said there was something that isn't 'closed ' yet.... a pulmonary "something" that is normal to not be closed, but she can't breathe without it being closed and it is near the heart. She said the doc said they would give her a 'motrin' like drug to help fix it.

Can you interpret that?

PrairieMom replied: Its been probably 15 years since I covered infant cardiology, and I didn't deal with that part, just the breathing part, so I'm probably not the best person to ask, I just have a very general idea of what he is talking about.
When a baby is in the womb its circulation basically works backwards, because the blood flow comes from the mother. The blood goes through these valves . At delivery, when the chest is compressed and the infant takes it first breath it creates pressure in the chest that forces the blood to suddenly go the other direction slamming those valves shut so that normal circulation can start. But she is so tiny, she didn't get that pressure on her chest, and her lungs are so undeveloped that this process couldn't happen. so, normal blood flow happens, but those valves can't slam shut so blood leaks between the valves in the heart. There are lots of different names for it, depending on what valves remain open. Some shut on their own, some need to be surgically shut.
i THINK this is what he MIGHT be talking about.

Even when that hole closes, she still will not be able to breath. Because her lungs are so underdeveloped at this point. They are probably talking about her ability to oxygenate her blood.

lovemy2 replied: What a precious miracle - prayers continue for her and your family

amymom replied: I am sorry that I have not updated sooner. here is what my brother said last night:


So all in all she is doing ok. She is very tiny.

Please continue all prayers. Thanks, Anne Marie

CantWait replied: Thank you for the update Anne Marie, will continue to send my prayers

mckayleesmom replied: sounds like she is a good little fighter...she is gaining weight...that is good even with the little drop.

Sarah&Mackenzie replied: Sending my thoughts and prayers!!!

PrairieMom replied: How is she doing today? any update?

moped replied: Yes, I came by to see if there was any news!

amymom replied: Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.

She is holding her own. She is now 400 grams. She is over 100 hours old (I think way over, I will have to go count) She is amazing everyone on staff. Mom went home today and will hopefully get herself better too. There are some pics on facebook of her feet and I will try to put them on here if I can. They are really little feet.

I hate being far away, but hopefully will get down to give my brother a hug soon.

I can not thank you all enough for the prayers. Keep them up, because Christina needs them. I will try and update more often, if I can.

boyohboyohboy replied: Continued prayers!

CantWait replied:
I love these updates.

grapfruit replied:
Me too Marie. I come on specifically to check <3

amymom replied: Thank you everyone for the prayers. My brother said that: 3 days on milk and formula, Christina is up to 395g, her head has increase 1/2cm, no change in height, phototherapy still off, no blood or platlettes for 2 days, wetting diapers, no poop yet.

So it sounds like she is holding her own. Prayers are heading her way from all over. She is one remarkable little girl. To be doing so well and be so small it is amazing all of us.