The basics on Henry

Henry David Hermon was born on October 6, 2010.  He weighed 6 lbs, 6 oz. and was around 19 inches long.  He was born only about a week and a half early.  For the most part, the pregnancy was pretty normal.  The point of this is: nothing out of the ordinary was expected.  And for the first few hours of his life, things seemed overall pretty normal.   His parents, David & Dana, were able to do the usual new parent things: cut the umbilical cord, take those proud parent pictures, hold their newborn baby, pass him around to friends and family and hear how beautiful and perfect he was.  It wasn't until a nurse came in to do a routine vitals check that there was the first indication that something might not be right.  But maybe it was just a murmur.  Some more tests and checks showed that was probably something worse than that.  Oxygen levels weren't what they should have been.  He wasn't responding in ways he should.  A specialist happened to be at the hospital that normally wouldn't have been and confirmed that yes, something was definitely not right.  The decision was made that he needed to be sent immediately to Children's Mercy Hospital, leaving Dana behind at the hospital and separated from her baby.  And poor David having to leave her there. 

Once at Children's Mercy, many more tests were run.  After a few hours, the doctor finally emerged with some news for David.  This was critical.  They weren't sure what it was yet.  But it was related to his heart.  And without it being caught early at his delivery hospital, he likely wouldn't have survived 24 hours.  So for that, thank you to the staff at Olathe Med. 

Fortunately, Dana was able to be released the next morning so they could all be together again.  After a long morning and afternoon of testing, David & Dana were finally able to meet with the doctors to get some early answers.  The news wasn't good.  The problems were stemming from a severe heart defect.  There are openings in his heart where there shouldn't be.  There are valves that aren't doing what they should be doing.  There are vessels coming into the heart on the opposite side that they normally should.  He will require surgery within the first month and many more surgeries through out his life as his heart continues to grow.

                                                     Henry, 2 days old

Right now, we are still waiting for some answers on what all this means.  But we do know it is going to be a rough start for this little guy.  And yet we do have faith that he will grow healthy and strong.  At this point, we need prayers for Henry's healing and for God to bless the doctors treating him.  And prayers for David and Dana for peace and comfort and strength.  And when the need is known, we will need prayers that they will be provided for financially to allow them to be home for the extended period they will need, in addition to the medical expenses. 

Thank you for your love & support of this family we care so much about.