Saturday, October 8, 2011 5:45pm
Thankfully, there is not much to report about the day! Morgan continues to hold tight today. There is no real change in her condition, nor much movement to get wean her from the ventilator.
On Monday, Morgan will have another echo cardiogram. This will determine if the PDA has closed or become smaller. The results of this report will determine what course of action that is next taken to help Morgan improve. Until then, if she behaves, I do not think much will change in her condition. While Morgan has received all doses for her heart in this round, the medicine can have an extended life and continue to help her heart for a couple of days. There is no way to determine if the PDA is healed without the echo cardiogram. Until then, we continue to pray for her heart health and the PDA closure.
As Seth explained yesterday, Morgan's lungs are extremely critical. Our little girl is a fighter and we believe she will overcome this lung injury. We know Who is in charge and Who is in the miracle business. Please continue to lift Morgan's lungs up fervently in prayer. I continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to enter her lungs and breathe life and healing in them.
Currently, Morgan's feedings are still suspended. She is receiving nutrition through her iv. Once we have a course of action after receivng the results of the echo carodiogram, then we will know when her feedings will resume. At this time, we pray for her digestive system when the feedings do resume.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Our prayer requests remain 1) the growth and development of her lungs 2) that her heart's PDA will close 3) against infections 4) her nutrition 5) continued protection of her brain. As always, please pray for wisdom and skill for those taking care of her.
Morgan is 2 pounds 5 ounces today... that is one pound more than her birth weight. We can really tell our little girl is growing. Our hearts melt each time we get see her and gaze into those big, blue eyes. Today she was holding my pinkie finger and tightly squeezing it. Her little hand does not even wrap entirely around my finger. We can hardly wait to hold her again (hurry and get off the ventilator, Morgan) and eventually bring her home!
Thanks again for your love and support!
Elizabeth and Seth McCoin
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Fighting On the Inside
Friday, October 7, 2011 11:45 am
Morgan continues to struggle. Her lungs are extremely critical. Morgan has gained weight and is noticeably bigger, but her lungs are not growing in proportion. Her lungs are about three weeks behind the rest of her body due to her prematurity. They are growing abnormally which hinders their function. Morgan can overcome this by growing new lung tissue, which requires time and great patience. Please pray for life and the growth of her lungs.
While she lays so peacefully and looks to be resting, she is fighting frantically on the inside. Her mother and I so wish we could crawl inside of her little body and fight this battle on her behalf.
The doctors have shown great concern about the length of time Morgan has been on the ventilator, much less the high-frequency ventilator. While a ventilator is a great resource of assistance, it also causes damage to the lungs. The doctors continue to try to get Morgan to wean off, but she hasn't responded well enough to stay off.
Morgan is still receiving medication for her heart. We will not know how well the medication has worked until Monday, at the earliest. We pray that the PDA shows great improvement. This would be a great source of hope and would also help her lungs dramatically.
Our daughter is very sick. It pains us, deeply, to see her this way. We thank all of you for your prayers. We truly feel the embraces from over the miles. As we pray for sweet Morgan, please fervently lift up the staff at St. Vincent's.
Seth and Elizabeth McCoin
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Continued Struggle, but Prayerful Hope
Wednesday, October 5, 2011 9:40 pm
Morgan is still struggling to recover from her days off of the ventilator(s). She returned to the high-frequency ventilator today. Yesterday, she maintained the conventional ventilator, but it just didn't seem to provide her with the proper assistance. Tonight, Morgan has been having trouble and we are waiting for our sweet baby to bounce back.
Further, her heart continues to be problematic. As I explained yesterday, her lungs and her heart need to work in unison in order to circulate the appropriate balance of oxygen through her blood to the rest of her little body. There is a perfect, scaling balance that we have not been able to find for her yet. She is still receiving medicine to find her sweet spot so that the balance is found.
Her lungs and her heart remain our to most critical prayer points. Other prayer points continue to be 1) her brain's development, 2) that her suspended feedings will be able to recommence soon, 3) that she does not accumulate any infections in her body and 4) that there are no hidden, negative ramifications from her current struggle. Also, continue to pray for those taking such wonderful care of our daughter. As blessed and gracious as we are, we could never thank them enough.
Likewise, we could never repay the prayers that have been lifted in Morgan's name. As of today, this blog has received more than 10,000 hits from 5 continents and 10 countries. We certainly are in awe of God's provisions for us.
Seth and Elizabeth McCoin
Morgan is still struggling to recover from her days off of the ventilator(s). She returned to the high-frequency ventilator today. Yesterday, she maintained the conventional ventilator, but it just didn't seem to provide her with the proper assistance. Tonight, Morgan has been having trouble and we are waiting for our sweet baby to bounce back.
Further, her heart continues to be problematic. As I explained yesterday, her lungs and her heart need to work in unison in order to circulate the appropriate balance of oxygen through her blood to the rest of her little body. There is a perfect, scaling balance that we have not been able to find for her yet. She is still receiving medicine to find her sweet spot so that the balance is found.
Her lungs and her heart remain our to most critical prayer points. Other prayer points continue to be 1) her brain's development, 2) that her suspended feedings will be able to recommence soon, 3) that she does not accumulate any infections in her body and 4) that there are no hidden, negative ramifications from her current struggle. Also, continue to pray for those taking such wonderful care of our daughter. As blessed and gracious as we are, we could never thank them enough.
Likewise, we could never repay the prayers that have been lifted in Morgan's name. As of today, this blog has received more than 10,000 hits from 5 continents and 10 countries. We certainly are in awe of God's provisions for us.
Seth and Elizabeth McCoin
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Wreath of Indecision
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 10:30 pm
Today was, for the most part, an uneventful day for Morgan. She continues to recover. Her oxygen levels bounced like a rubber ball in a toy store, but she has been able to rebound from each drop. We continue to pray for her lungs and a steady recovery, after wearing herself from being on the nasal C-PAP for so many days.
Morgan's feedings were halted overnight in order to help her recover, but have since been re-administered. This means that her recovery is progressing, since her gut is the last place to receive oxygen. We know how important milk is to her and we hope that she will be able to sustain her feedings to grow strong.
Her heart seems to be the trouble area right now. The short version is that she continues to have problems with her Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA). This is an opening in her heart that needs to close in order for her blood to best distribute oxygen through her body. She will receive medication over the next day or so to help from this being an ongoing problem. There are additional measures that can be taken to treat this, but we pray that the medicine mends her loving little heart.
Elizabeth and I were pleased to be greeted with a wreath on Morgan's incubator tonight. As some of you know, and others may not, when a child is born in the State of Alabama, they are required to declare their allegiance...Auburn or Alabama. Morgan proved that she loves both of her parents equally, as she decided to remain on the fence. Her daddy will continue to pry and prod and bring her to the lighter side of this orange and blue world. While her mother terribly disapproves, little girls were made to love their daddies. Her wreath was lovingly handmade by one of the wonderful nurse practitioners that provide her care. It is so wonderful, as a parent, to watch your daughter be loved by others. We are so thankful for her care providers at St. Vincent's. All three of us are very blessed.
Please continue to pray for sweet Morgan's health and those charged with her care. We continue to be prayerfully optimistic for our little girl and her current battles.
All of the McCoin's and Hassinger's would like to extend our ongoing thanks and appreciation for all of you, your thoughts and your prayers. We are blessed at every turn and our gratitude could never be put into words.
Thank you all,
Seth and Elizabeth McCoin
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Main Thing Is To Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
Monday, October 3, 2011 9:20 pm
Morgan made it over 100 hours off of the ventilator!!!! That is great news and we are so proud of her. Her proud daddy is dreading the amount of twenty dollar bills she's earned! However, as we knew may be the case, she wore her little-self out and has returned to the conventional ventilator. This is a step backward, but not as large as her needing the high-frequency ventilator. She has a long recovery in front of her and we need her to stay tough as she does so. We have learned that the best way to manage your child being in a NICU is just like a boring trip to Six Flags...you can only buy the ticket, enjoy the pretzels but don't ride the rollercoaster. Highs and lows are, simply, just part of it.
Our sweet baby's feedings continue to be successful. She is accepting 10 ml every 3 hours. We are praying that inclinced regimen will result in Morgan accepting as much as 12 ml per feeding. GO MO (as her daddy calls her)! YOU'RE ALMOST THERE, SWEET GIRL!
She is to have a head ultrasound tomorrow, which will give us more information about Morgan's brain. We pray that there will be no trace of blood in her brain.
Further, there remains to be no sign of infection in her body. We are rapidly entering cold season in Birmingham and she needs to stay free of any infections that could be passed to her.
Please pray for all of these points, especially her recovery. Her lungs are so vital because once they are under control, we can focus on other critical organs in her body. She is, currently, unable to withstand too much stress on her tiny, frail body, so it's one thing at a time. This reminds me of my t-shirt from the Brentwood Academy Jr. High Christian Retreat, many years ago, which stated, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Right now, Morgan's lungs are, "the main thing."
We also ask that you continue to pray for all of those caring for our Morgan. We are so pleased and so blessed that she is under their care. Pray that they are provided with heavenly wisdom and endurance as they care for our daughter.
Many more thanks from us to all of you as we could never show any of you how much your thoughts and prayers mean to us during this time.
Seth and Elizabeth McCoin
Morgan made it over 100 hours off of the ventilator!!!! That is great news and we are so proud of her. Her proud daddy is dreading the amount of twenty dollar bills she's earned! However, as we knew may be the case, she wore her little-self out and has returned to the conventional ventilator. This is a step backward, but not as large as her needing the high-frequency ventilator. She has a long recovery in front of her and we need her to stay tough as she does so. We have learned that the best way to manage your child being in a NICU is just like a boring trip to Six Flags...you can only buy the ticket, enjoy the pretzels but don't ride the rollercoaster. Highs and lows are, simply, just part of it.
Our sweet baby's feedings continue to be successful. She is accepting 10 ml every 3 hours. We are praying that inclinced regimen will result in Morgan accepting as much as 12 ml per feeding. GO MO (as her daddy calls her)! YOU'RE ALMOST THERE, SWEET GIRL!
She is to have a head ultrasound tomorrow, which will give us more information about Morgan's brain. We pray that there will be no trace of blood in her brain.
Further, there remains to be no sign of infection in her body. We are rapidly entering cold season in Birmingham and she needs to stay free of any infections that could be passed to her.
Please pray for all of these points, especially her recovery. Her lungs are so vital because once they are under control, we can focus on other critical organs in her body. She is, currently, unable to withstand too much stress on her tiny, frail body, so it's one thing at a time. This reminds me of my t-shirt from the Brentwood Academy Jr. High Christian Retreat, many years ago, which stated, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Right now, Morgan's lungs are, "the main thing."
We also ask that you continue to pray for all of those caring for our Morgan. We are so pleased and so blessed that she is under their care. Pray that they are provided with heavenly wisdom and endurance as they care for our daughter.
Many more thanks from us to all of you as we could never show any of you how much your thoughts and prayers mean to us during this time.
Seth and Elizabeth McCoin
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Infinite Moment
Sunday, October 2, 2011 9:30 pm
Morgan continues to improve. We are so thankful for her progress and we celebrate her small victories. She continues to only need the C-PAP, rather than the conventional or high-frequency ventilators. Her oxygen assistance levels continue to fluctuate, but we are comfortable with her current status.
Today, the doctor told us, "she is doing as well as anyone would expect of her at this time." While Elizabeth and I have semi-learned the language of a NICU, let us share with you what this means...SHE'S DOING GREAT TODAY!
Her lungs remain critical, her overall status remains critical, but we w
ere able to experience one of the most life-changing instances parents will have...WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD MORGAN TODAY! For the first time in her 25-day life, we held her in our arms. As the nurse tucked Morgan inside of the top of my shirt, so that my skin contacted hers, I was beaming with excitement (apparently, skin to skin contact is proven to be therapeutic to Morgan...and, now, her mommy and daddy!) The room was not large enough to hold our smiles. Morgan sustained her time in our arms well and she did not seem to be flustered outside of the incubator. We each held her for approximately ten minutes, but time stood still as we cherished this infinite moment with her. Her small hands squeezed the skin on my chest as her feet tap danced on the palm of my hand. It was unforgettable, life-changing, mesmerizing and any other adjective one could insert. She is so small and precious. She remained calm but my heart didn't. My heart was pounding so hard, I didn't know if it was going to beat bard enough to hurt my little princess. The feeling was inexplicable and will live in me for the rest of my days. Ferrari for your 16th birthday? Yes, Morgan, you may have it...
ere able to experience one of the most life-changing instances parents will have...WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD MORGAN TODAY! For the first time in her 25-day life, we held her in our arms. As the nurse tucked Morgan inside of the top of my shirt, so that my skin contacted hers, I was beaming with excitement (apparently, skin to skin contact is proven to be therapeutic to Morgan...and, now, her mommy and daddy!) The room was not large enough to hold our smiles. Morgan sustained her time in our arms well and she did not seem to be flustered outside of the incubator. We each held her for approximately ten minutes, but time stood still as we cherished this infinite moment with her. Her small hands squeezed the skin on my chest as her feet tap danced on the palm of my hand. It was unforgettable, life-changing, mesmerizing and any other adjective one could insert. She is so small and precious. She remained calm but my heart didn't. My heart was pounding so hard, I didn't know if it was going to beat bard enough to hurt my little princess. The feeling was inexplicable and will live in me for the rest of my days. Ferrari for your 16th birthday? Yes, Morgan, you may have it...Please continue to pray for Morgan's development. While recent days have given us joy and celebration, we know that our daughter remains in a struggle until she is able to come home (we have been told that may be after the first of the year). Pray that her lungs will continue to improve, that her heart remains strong, that her brain continues to show no sign of problems and that her body stays free of infection...especially as temperatures get colder and outside sources in the hospital could easily spread anything to her body. Also continue to pray for her wonderful care providers at St. Vincent's.
Again, thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers. We are so blessed for each one of you. We are so excited to share this blog you, especially today. Please celebrate with us.
Seth and Elizabeth McCoin
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A Quick Update
Saturday, October 1, 2011 9:15pm
56 hours and counting... Morgan continues to be on C-PAP machine! We continue to celebrate every minute and hour. The doctor and nurses continue to keep a close eye on her, but her stats remain steady.
Obviously, she is not a stress eater, because she has been tolerating her feedings. Over the next few days, they will continue to increase the quantity of milk she is receiving. Today she weighed 1 pound 14 ounces, however the weight lost is "water weight". The doctor is very comfortable with that.
It is crucial that her lungs and digestive system continue to improve and is at the top of our prayer list. We pray that God will protect her little body from any foreseeable harm of any kind.
Our prayers remain the same: 1) Her lungs 2) Her nutrition 3) Her brain 4) Her heart 5) against infections. Please keep the St. Vincent's staff in your prayers, as well.
When visiting this morning, Morgan was stretching and wiggling. Her wide-open hand was outstretched straight into the air. We know Who she was Praising! ;) She continues to suck her passy and look at us! She has captured us!
Thank you for your continued love, support and prayers!
Love,
Elizabeth and Seth
56 hours and counting... Morgan continues to be on C-PAP machine! We continue to celebrate every minute and hour. The doctor and nurses continue to keep a close eye on her, but her stats remain steady.
Obviously, she is not a stress eater, because she has been tolerating her feedings. Over the next few days, they will continue to increase the quantity of milk she is receiving. Today she weighed 1 pound 14 ounces, however the weight lost is "water weight". The doctor is very comfortable with that.
It is crucial that her lungs and digestive system continue to improve and is at the top of our prayer list. We pray that God will protect her little body from any foreseeable harm of any kind.
Our prayers remain the same: 1) Her lungs 2) Her nutrition 3) Her brain 4) Her heart 5) against infections. Please keep the St. Vincent's staff in your prayers, as well.
When visiting this morning, Morgan was stretching and wiggling. Her wide-open hand was outstretched straight into the air. We know Who she was Praising! ;) She continues to suck her passy and look at us! She has captured us!
Thank you for your continued love, support and prayers!
Love,
Elizabeth and Seth
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