Around 30 weeks pregnant I went in for an ultrasound to check on the placenta, at my 19 week appointment the placenta had been low, so we wanted to double check that it had moved up to allow for delivery. During this appointment my husband and I were informed that our baby had fetal hydrops, this is where the baby has fluid building up in two or more areas in his body. In Dominic's case, he had fluid in two areas around his left lung. This began extensive monitoring, by a fetal specialist and my OBGYN. I went in every week for an ultrasound to check on the fluid in his body and the amniotic fluid. I was also monitored for contractions and his heartbeat and movement for 30 minutes to an hour. At 37 weeks, we discovered that Dominic was developing more fluid in another area. My OBGYN along with the fetal specialist advice that I be induced to get baby our before his condition worsened. I was induced at 38 weeks 2 days, January 5, 2015 and a fast 8 hours later Dominic was born via emergency cesearean and rushed to the NICU because he was having trouble breathing. He was hooked up to a ventilator to help him breath, two days later he was breathing completely on his own. At 4 days old he was placed under uv lights because he had jaundice, 2 days later he was doing well and out from under the lights. From there we waited for Dominic to eat on his own. He finally started eating on his own and we came home on January 23, 2015, 18 days after he was born. While in the NICU he had two hearing tests, he failed both times. At this point we weren't worried because we were told that the test automatically fails any child who doesn't get 100%. In March he had an ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test and he was diagnosed as severe to profoundly deaf. In May he received his first set of hearing aids, and we began seeing the audiologists every two weeks for new molds and booth tests once a month. Because his hearing aids don't help him enough to hear speech, or any noises under 80 decibels (speech is at 60 decibels) my husband and I decided the best thing for Dominic is to have bilateral cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf. This surgery is not approved by the FDA for children under one year of age. Dominic will have his first surgery in mid January, will be activated 2 weeks later, and have his second surgery about a month after activation. Activation is when his audiologist turns his device on and turn the sound to a level that he can handle, over time they will turn the volume up until it is at a level where he is hearing and able to learn from speech like a "normal" hearing person.
We have already racked up a large medical bill with his 18 day NICU stay, his audiology appointments, and specialists appointments, and we are going to be adding two surgeries for him after the first of the year. These surgeries are between $50,000 - $100,000 each, not including the extensive speech therapy he will be having once he is activated. With all the extra medical costs we will have I have decided to put all of my earnings from R & B Boutique into a seperate account just for Dominic's medical bills.
This is where all of you come into play. If you would kindly share our story, and help us get the word out about my boutique my family and I would greatly appreciate it! I'm also currently having a 50% off sale at my shop!!
Thank you so very much for following, purchasing my items, and all of your support!
Here is a photo of my handsome little guy, that all of R & B Boutique's proceeds are going to help!!
