Our sweet Ella turned 1 years old on June 22nd 2013. Ella was born via C Section due to being breach. Ella was born at 8:16am and was immediately taken to NICU due to fluid in her lungs. Daddy was able to stay by her side from the moment she was born for the next 8 hours of life before mommy was able to see her. Ella was born with Dandy Walker Malformation, while she showed no signs of Dandy Walker at birth we were still nervous. For the next month 1/2 we waited till we could get into a neurosurgeon and have Ella evaluated. The appointment came and we were told that Ella was doing okay that the doctor was going to do his best to not have to put a shunt in her. At 4 months I had a really bad feeling Ella wouldnt stop crying for a day 1/2, so I rushed her to Primary Childrens to be evaluated. They did a CT scan and it was determined that she would need an emergency surgery to place a shunt in her brain. I stayed the night with her and walked her down to have surgery. I held it together the best way i could, I handed Ella to a nurse who took Ella to the surgery room as i was walked to the waiting room. I looked around in the waiting room and I was the only one waiting for my daughter the room was empty. After Ellas shunt was placed she was doing so much better for about 4 weeks and than her feeding went down and she started to breathe heavy and irregular. I took her to a heart surgeon and it was determined that she had a PDA heart murmur and would need to have a PDA device placed in her heart. December 17th we took Ella in and she went into surgery! Its amazing how much this little girl has gone through during her year of life. She has accomplished so many goals. As of now she is crawling, standing up against furniture and walking against furniture. We are so proud of her and all she has been through. She has so much strength in her to keep motivated and moving.
It amazes me that at just 22 weeks in my womb I was asked if I wanted to terminate and we said Hell no!!! I am very proud of our decision and i would havent have had it any other way. Shes our sweet pumpkin and she fills our hearts with so much joy.
We love you Ella and all that you are.. You are our Angel!!!!!!!
