Rhiannon's Story
A routine iron infusion at 34 weeks.
Dangerously high blood pressure and days of induction.
Just 10 seconds holding her baby before they were separated.
Two hospitals, a NICU stay, and a life-threatening meningitis diagnosis.
31 days waiting to bring Quinn home.
Learning that gratitude and grief can exist together.
I actually stayed at Highland Hospital, but my daughter was transferred to the NICU at GCH. I went in for a routine (for me) iron infusion due to my iron levels being low. My blood pressure was high, which wasn't abnormal. I've always had a little hypertension. But this was so high, that the social worker came out and wouldn't let me leave unless I promised I'd go straight to Labor and Delivery Triage.
Off to triage I went, at 34 weeks. From admission, it was a whirlwind. My blood pressure wouldn't come down. Steroid shots to help my baby's lungs, a magnesium drip for multiple days, and days of induction. The magnesium drip made me feel almost drunk. Very hazy, like I wasn't actually living my life, I was just observing it all.
It took days for my induction to progress, but Quinn came out in only a few pushes once she was ready. She was born at 34 weeks and 2 days, in respiratory failure. I got to hold my baby for 10 seconds before they took her away. The next time I saw her, I was told to leave because the nurses said I wouldn't want to see her be intubated. Once she was intubated, they brought her back to me in what looked like a little rocket ship - a mobile incubator to make the drive over to Golisano Children's Hospital.
Highland wasn't equipped for the level of care she needed. My baby and I were separated at her birth, staying in different hospitals when we should have been together. Shortly after Quinn's NICU admission, I was released from the hospital. But I deteriorated rapidly. I was unable to form words, my head felt like it was going to explode, and I ended up back in triage at Highland with a stroke code called on me.
It would take them days, days where I was no longer conscious, multiple spinal taps and tests to determine that I had developed Bacterial Meningitis (a scary brain infection) while in the hospital. I'd spent almost 2 weeks in the hospital when I finally convinced them to let me leave so I could go be with my baby who was at Strong. I left the hospital with a PICC line inserted into my heart to administer life saving antibiotics for my meningitis.
From there, it was going through the motions. Meds every four hours for blood pressure, antibiotics, go to the NICU. Pump every few hours, get no breast milk. Run home for my in-home nurse visit to flush my PICC line. Back to the NICU. Quinn was in the NICU for 31 days. She was treated preemptively for bacterial meningitis - the spinal tap she had to have at just one day old was too traumatic and didn't provide enough spinal fluid to rule for sure.
She had an umbilical IV, feeding tube, CPAP mask... And then, she started getting stronger. Eating more. Regulating her own temperature. Passing tests to go home. The most beautiful time in my life, having my daughter, was also our most traumatic time. I've learned that you can be grateful for what you have, while being sad for what you've missed out on or lost. Quinn is almost 3 and she's thriving now. Attending preschool, making friends. Being her mom is my greatest gift, and I am so proud of us for how far we have come.
