On March
3, 2008, I went in to my doctor’s appointment not knowing I was in labor
and would probably be delivering my sweet baby boy on that day. I was sent over
to Sacred Heart Hospital for an amniocentesis and was told I would deliver that
day. I was first of all scared because I was only 32 weeks into my pregnancy. But having a healthy
baby girl in 2004, I never even imagined going through what I went through.
I was sent down to be prepped for delivery. After waiting on
Dad to arrive, I was so anxious and nervous at the same time to meet my baby
boy. I was given a c-section
because I had to have an emergency c-section with my first baby. Jaylan
entered the world making me a very proud mother again. I got to see him for
just a second, and then they went to get him cleaned up. I was taken to
recovery and was then taken to a room where I was sick in bed for 2-3 days,
having to have a blood transfusion because of blood loss during the delivery.
My nurse came in, gave me a bath and asked if I wanted to see him. I told her
yes you can bring him in. She said unfortunately you will have to walk to the
nursery.
As we were walking to the nursery and I arrived at the
intensive care unit door, it still never dawned on me that I would walk in and
see him hooked to all these cords and machines. They had me scrub down and
escorted me to his crib. I instantly broke down. The thoughts and fear that
were in my heart. Why is my baby so little and why did this have to happen to
him? And will he make it through this? Jaylan was born with very premature lungs.
After I saw him in the delivery room, he started to have seizure after seizure.
He was put on a ventilator
for about 2 weeks and slowly progressed off of it. His seizure activity
never changed, and he had to have several EEGs done at night. They couldn’t
figure out why he was having all these seizures back to back. He was being fed out of a 3cc syringe
for a few weeks and finally progressed to bottle feeding after about 3-4 weeks.
None of this was easy. I was discharged from the hospital
and didn’t get to take him home with me. That was the most hurtful thing ever.
I was still questioning the doctors about when my baby would get to go home. Of
course they couldn’t tell me when. Weeks and weeks went by, and we saw so much
improvement in him. The doctors and nurse and staff at Sacred Heart were very
loving and caring. After 9
weeks of being in the NICU, we finally got to bring him home. My
daughter got tired of seeing pictures of him every day and was very anxious to
meet him. We brought him home still having seizure after seizure and also being
diagnosed with asthma.
Years went by, and he would never talk or interact like a normal kid. He
was then diagnosed with
autism at the age of 3. All of this has been a very emotional
rollercoaster. I’ve only been a part of the March of Dimes for the last 2 years. We have a Family
team, “Team Jaylan.” I’m not an ambassador family but would love to be
and get more involved and hopefully join a committee one day. My name is
Anetia Dukes, Dad is Warren Shoemaker. Kids are Ja’Miyah Lattiemore and Jaylan Shoemaker. Jaylan
was the only one we have born prematurely. But I’m a triplet, and we were born
prematurely, delivered at Sacred Heart Hospital also, to Farrow and Charles
Dukes, Sr. We spent several weeks in the NICU, but the youngest of all spent
the longest due to a heart defect and had to have surgery.
The best part of being a parent is watching my kids grow, seeing
the everyday changes of life with them — but most all watching my autistic son
reach more and more milestones every day that I never imagined him reaching.
Having a very supportive family and teachers that care for him means so much.
My daughter is very unselfish when it comes to him. I’m so blessed to have both
of my kids. But he has a special place in everybody’s heart. If you are a
current NICU family, just keep your head up and trust in God and let the
doctors do their jobs. They’re amazing, and I love and appreciate each and
every one of them. Without them I don’t know where my little guy would be. He’s
8 years old now. This hasn’t been the best 8 years, but I’m out to make his
next 8 the very best and keep supporting him in all that he does.
