The following is from October’s mom:
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and to get to know the beautiful soul behind a complicated diagnosis. But first, let me introduce you to my family. My Mommy’s and Daddy’s names are Olivia and Dwight. I have a precocious three-year-old brother, Oakland and a very loving big sister named O’Mally.
My name is October Storm Barnaby and I was born via emergency C-section on October 18, 2022. My mom’s placenta abrupted after four long days of being in labor. Due to the abruption, I was born still; I spent nine minutes in her womb without oxygen and it took a team of doctors 12 minutes to resuscitate and stabilize me. I was immediately transported to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital where I received life sustaining care.
My prognosis was grim: Doctors said I wouldn’t survive the night… BUT I DID! I was diagnosed with (Severe) H.I.E or Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, which means my brain was deprived of oxygen for an extended amount of time. My neurologist, Dr. Arroyo, told my parents about a treatment that could yield hopeful results “The Cooling Process”. This process gradually lowered my body temperature over 72 hours with hopes of preserving any unharmed brain tissue. Unfortunately, the brain tissue that was previously damaged during birth couldn’t be repaired.
Once cooling was completed my temperature was returned to normal and my parents anxiously waited for good news; however, there was none. My follow up MRI showed that my brain was beginning to heal, but also uncovered 3 individual brain bleeds and plentiful Central seizure activity. The previously damaged areas started to liquify essentially filling my brain with fluid.
My parents were also told that I couldn’t suck or swallow and that I didn’t have a gag reflex; so on November 29th, 2022 I received my gastronomy feeding tube. In the NICU, I began receiving physical, occupational and speech therapies to aid in my development.
I stayed a total of 56 days in the NICU before I was released into my parents care. My mother was thrilled yet terrified and my dad was elated simply because I was alive!
The Dr’s sent me home with a pulse ox machine, to monitor my heart and respiratory rates, an apnea monitor because at times I stop breathing, oxygen, a suction machine and a Joey feeding pump. I receive around the clock nursing and have a favorite nurse named Rose.
Although, my doctors say I will be bed bound or perhaps a “vegetable” for the remainder of my life, my family and I will continue to pray for a miracle. I move a lot more than Drs thought I would and I’ve started to coo. I am blind in both eyes, but my hearing is impeccable. My dad nibbles on my chin a lot, I love that, while my mom prefers to rub my hair and sing to me.
Regardless of my abilities or mental capacity my mommy tells me that I’m an answered prayer! My life will be a bit different than the average baby child, but I am greatly loved! I hope my story will inspire someone to keep going, to never give up and to remember that each day is a gift!
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