Boy born at 25 weeks turns 5
15-Sep-08 |
RENO – Seth Meeks will be celebrating his fifth birthday Sept. 17.
Many people across the country will be blowing out birthday candles that day, but what makes the day special for the Meeks family is that Seth is alive.
Seth was supposed to be a Christmas present, but was born at 25 weeks and six days weighing 2 pounds 3 ounces and was only 13 inches in length.
“I heard but one whimper,” said dad Sean Meeks, “when the doctor and nurses from the NICU whisked him away. We weren’t allowed to see Seth until later in the evening and when we did, it was overwhelming to see all the machines and tubes.
“Our son was on an oscillating ventilator and had respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax, hypotension, pulmonary hypertension, anemia, hyperbilirubinernia, and an infection,” Meeks said. “We learned more about these medical conditions than we ever wanted to know.
“We learned later,” he said, “that many of the treatments and procedures that Seth underwent were influenced by research sponsored by March of Dimes. We owe everything to the people who helped Seth develop and grow into the happy, healthy little man that he is today.”
Two months earlier, mom Michelle said the pregnancy was going well until she had a cramp that stopped her in her tracks. She called her doctor and was advised to stay down until she could see the doctor.
She learned that she had a partial chronic abruption and the baby had little or no amniotic fluid. Her body was apparently trying to miscarry.
“We were transferred to a specialist who advised us that the chance of survival for the baby at that point was 0 to 5 percent,” Michelle Meeks said. “We were told that the longer the baby could remain in the womb, the greater the survival chances would be.
She was placed on bed rest at home. At 23 weeks gestation, she was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital as the bleeding she had been experiencing since July had become severe.
“Seth’s first night was rough. He immediately received a blood transfusion and a laundry list of medication,” said Sean Meeks. “His lung function was one of our worst fears. Since he had no amniotic fluid, his lungs did not have the opportunity to form correctly. You can imagine our joy when he cried before they intubated him.
“He was given surfactant therapy, which was developed through research funded by March of Dimes, and that helped him greatly.
“Our little man fought and won, thus beginning the minute by minute saga of the next few months of our lives,” Sean Meeks said. “We learned never to be comfortable with anything or any situation. Nothing is more cruel than watching your baby fight for his life.
Seth today is a thriving almost 5 year old who is full of energy and in good health. He does everything a little boy his age should and has even reached beyond,” Sean Meeks said. “Each and every day he amazes us and is truly a gift from God.”
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