Sarah Flanigan - Poetry Simply Put

Birth Announcement

I am aware that many of you already know the news, so please be patient with this first mass mailing. For those of you that haven’t heard, I apologize that it is so late, but I know you all love us and will make allowances.

Sean Ezekiel Winter officially arrived in this world on February 20, 2007 at 5:31 pm. He was a little ahead of schedule, but thanks to all his gaurdian angels, he is so far doing well and staying stable. The Doctors saw that he was in distress during his regular U/S in Edmonton and an emergency c-section was immediently ordered. I am healing well, and thanks to the incredible timing, Sean is with us today.

Thank you all for your prayers, concern, support and well wishes. We will do our best to keep you informed of his and our progess. My time has run out, so i will try to send more information another day.

Hugs and love to all,

Jennifer

All About Sean

As promised, a little more information, including some quick background for those who need to be brought up to speed.

Sean has been one surprise after another. First of all the pregnancy itself was not planned, and it was a much different one for me than all the others. Then, at 21 weeks pregnant, a heart abnormality was detected during a regular ultrasound. After the specialists in Edmonton checked on it, we were told that it was quite rare and very severe. In fact, he is a first for the ped. cardiologists here in Edmonton. We were originally told that he would not survive the pregnancy, and our research confirmed this. We also found out that while some babies have survied this condition, none have been near as severe as Sean.

But then Sean has angels working overtime, I’m convinced of it. Not only did he survive longer in-utero than he was expected to, the timing of his delivery and his condition since confirms it. If our appointments in Edmonton had been a few days earlier, it is unlikely that any problems would have been seen as they were quite subtle. The c-section was ordered not because they were absolutely sure there was a problem, but because they thought it was “likely” and he was close enough to term to risk it. A day later, and he probably would not have survived. Even without the stress of labour, there was meconium in the fluids, attesting to just how stressed he really was.

It took the transport team between an hour and a half to an hour and forty-five minutes to stabilize him enough transport to the U of A hospital. I was able to see and touch his head for a few minutes before they took him away. I was released from the Royal Alex three days later, but I would get day passes from my Dr and Gavin would take me to the NICU in a wheel chair to see my baby. I got to hold him for the first time when he was two days old, and Gavin held him two more days later. We have held him some since as well, but as it takes three nurses to move him from bed to arms and then back again, it is a real treat each and every time.

Sean is very stable right now, and we are waiting for some changes to take place in the heart and lungs before any big decisions are made. The mantra at the NICU seems to be “wait and see” as it is common theme heard when talking with other parents.

As I mentioned earlier, Sean has been full of surprises every step of the way, and I can only hope that they keep being good ones. The Dr’s all agree that he is doing better than they ever expected. They are all very pleased.

oh and me? I’m sore and I would never, ever, ever choose a section over natural labour! However, the drugs are good and I’m doing well. Holding Sean and having him with us is the best therapy in the world.

Again, thankyou all for your prayers, thoughts and love

Blessings to you,

Jennifer

If I hear more information, I will pass it along. If anyone wants to email me privately about this, feel free. My contact email is on my About Me page. I am encouraged that the Angels are helping out Sean and Jennifer now - and hope they continue to do so. As I am sure you are.

Sarah