Baby Chance

My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on October 16th at 8:07 p.m., just a few hours shy of her 38th birthday. He was born a few weeks early according to an ultrasound due date, but weighed in at a healthy 5.5 lbs, was 18 1/2 inches long and had an 8/8 apgar score. My mom said he was screaming as he came out and was more developed then expected. She and her boyfriend named him Chance Timothy Smith. She gave his middle name Timothy after our brother.

Her water broke on the evening of October 15th, just days after being told by her doctor that her son will need life saving heart surgery immediately after birth. From what we were told his heart has 3 issues 1)Double outlet right ventricle, 2)Ventricular septal defect and 3)D-malposed great arteries. My mom traveled to her the following early morning, they all went to the hospital and baby was born that evening. After his birth, mama got to hold him for only a brief moment before doctors swept him away to do diagnostic tests on him and his heart condition. Because he was breathing well and was stronger and more developed then they originally had thought, surgery did not happen immediately, but he still had to stay in the NICU away from mama.

The next day, not even 24 hours old, Chance had his first heart surgery. He was on a respirator for almost 24 hours after the surgery because he didn't wake up. He must have needed his rest and has since woken up, is off the respirator and becoming more and more alert and stronger with each days passing. The doctor said the surgery went well and baby Chance is expected to recover within a few weeks. He will more than likely undergo more heart surgeries in the future, but we are all unsure how soon or how many. 

To do the surgery, doctors went in through the femoral artery. His oxygen levels are much better after the surgery and his coloring is better as well. 

 Mama and Daddy finally got to hold baby Chance for the first time since birth, 4 days later. He isn't strong enough to nurse yet, but he is getting pumped mamas milk through a tube, only a tiny bit at a time.

We are hoping and praying for continued healing and wellness for baby Chance. He has a long road ahead of him, but he is strong and beautiful.

My nephew - Love, love, love him!!!