The next day, once she was stable enough, they took her for a CT Scan. Hubby and I were pulled into a side room and told she has a severe injury to the right side of her brain. Shock took over and neither of us could talk. I finally came around to be able to ask questions. We learned that half of her brain had died from air that had accidentally gotten into the heart bypass machine during surgery. They advised us that because of the severity of the injury, it would affect the mobility on the left side of her body and also her personality.
Our worlds came crashing down, this wasn't meant to happen. I was so confident that everything was going to be ok. I lost my faith and started grieving again, this time for the loss of normal child.
Eva's First Christmas ...
Hubby and I walked into the PICU room and the first thing we saw was a red sign attached to her cot that read Merry Christmas Mummy and Daddy. The nurses had been working through the night (like little elves) making foot prints of all the babies in PICU. I burst into tears as this was the first positive memento we had. We didn't have any professional photos, we didn't take time to celebrate the milestones because we were just so focused on the now and keeping her as happy as she could, because we didn't know how long we would have her. The second thing, was a present for Eva from Santa - a cute giraffe.
Hubby and I lent over and kissed our tiny girl (still sedated) and wished her a Merry Christmas. Then a miracle happened........ Eva squeezed daddy's finger with her left hand and her left foot moved also. He lept up with joy ..... this was the most amazing Christmas present we have ever gotten.
Adrianne runs Scrumptious Baby Things -An online store of baby and toddler apparel.
Specialising in baby milestones and birth art which are designed and made in New Zealand by Adrianne Galvin, and inspired by her daughter, Eva.