August 13, 1997 – We called the lab to get the results of the chromosome test. All of the tests were normal. We both felt better knowing that we would be taking the baby to term. We also learned the baby was a girl.

October 31, 1997 – Lynn had her fourth ultrasound. Her doctors wanted her to get an ultrasound every month to check the baby’s growth and to rule out hydropic changes. This particular ultrasound indicated that Lynn had some excess amniotic fluid. The excess fluid was a result of the hernia and the baby’s inability to regulate the fluid through her body. During this visit we toured the neo-natal unit at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO. We decided on Allison Michelle for the baby’s name.

November 17, 1997 – Lynn had her fifth ultrasound. She still had excess amniotic fluid, and the doctor requested that she have another ultrasound in a week to monitor the increase.

November 18, 1997 – On a routine doctor visit Lynn was found to have elevated blood pressure. Her doctor recommended that she go to the hospital for further checks. She was hooked up to several monitors that monitored both the baby’s heartbeat and contractions. Lynn was experiencing sporadic contractions. She was given a muscle relaxant used in the prevention of premature labor. The doctor recommended that Lynn stop working and get bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.

January 6, 1998 – Lynn was full term. Lynn's doctor had planned on inducing labor a week earlier, but due to scheduling conflicts, the holidays, and an unfavorable cervix, her doctor decided to wait until January 6. On January 6 Lynn was admitted to the hospital to begin the induction process; the cervix was still unfavorable at this time. Low dose Pitocin was started early on the seventh and was increased throughout the day. By six p.m. Lynn’s cervix had opened only 1.5 centimeters. The Pitocin was reduced overnight so she could eat and get some rest. Early on the eighth the Pitocin drip was increased again. Lynn’s induced contractions were two to three minutes apart and painful. She requested and received pain medication. She got an Epidural around five p.m. at four centimeters. Lynn received a continuos Epidural up to delivery which occurred at 8:23 p.m. on January 8.

January 8, 1998 --Allison was born at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. This hospital was chosen because of its close proximity to Children's Hospital where the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) is located and where Allison was to be taken immediately after birth. A team of doctors and nurses were on hand to assist with the delivery and transporting of Allison from Barnes to Children's. Lynn delivered in an operating room instead of the normal birthing room in order to accommodate the extra people.

The early signs immediately after birth were somewhat positive. A slow heart rate was improved with a few chest compressions. A tube was placed down Allison’s trachea, and a doctor breathed for her using a hand held air bag. Her color was good. One of the surgeons said she could hear breaths in both lungs with a stethoscope.

When Allison was stable enough for transporting, they wheeled her from the operating room through a maze of hallways to the adjacent Children’s Hospital NICU. I followed her to Children’s and was told to sit in the waiting room while they attempted to put Allison on a respirator.

By 10:30 p.m. Allison’s condition had worsened. Her oxygen saturation levels were not where they should have been. Her upper sats were okay but the lower sats were not. A chest x-ray showed that Allison had suffered a pneumothorax of the right lung (a collapsed lung). I was told that the doctors were considering putting Allison immediately on ECMO (a heart/lung bypass machine). We asked that a Chaplain be called. Allison was baptized while on an oscillator.

January 9, 1998 – Shortly after midnight on January 9 the decision was made to put Allison on ECMO. At 3 a.m. we received word that Allison was on ECMO and her condition was stable. We were told by the pediatric surgeon that he was not overly optimistic about Allison’s chances due to her poor saturation levels and the difficulties they had encountered shortly after birth. He told us that we could expect for Allison to remain on ECMO for two to three weeks.