Trivium drummer Alex Bent and his spouse Christina lately welcomed their daughter Layla into the world. In accordance with the Bent household, Layla was born prematurely and beneath some pretty dire circumstances that, if left unchecked, would have resulted in a stillbirth. Layla and the Bent household have spent their days within the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) which has racked up some fairly severe payments.
Christina has since launched a GoFundMe asking for assist, which you can donate to right here. You may also learn the main points of Christina‘s story beneath, per her retelling on the GoFundMe web page. We want the Bent household all the very best presently and hope they’ll all go house quickly, completely satisfied and wholesome.
“On August 22nd, 2024, our world was rocked when a routine being pregnant appointment was an emergency at 29 weeks gestation.
“For weeks, I used to be getting anxious (for no actual cause) about getting in to see my specialist for my gestational diabetes. Although I had already been by this with my older daughter, I used to be very antsy and calling all the MFMs in my hospital’s community to see if any earlier appointments could be obtainable, with no luck. At this level, I might have an introductory appointment on August 27th, and a sophisticated anatomy scan on September 17th. Whereas the 20-week anatomy scan was excellent, I used to be nonetheless very anxious to get in for an additional scan to see how our child was progressing within the 3rd trimester. Throughout my being pregnant with my older daughter, my placenta began failing on the finish of my being pregnant, resulting in induction at week 37 on account of gentle Intrauterine Development Restriction (IUGR). I anticipated the identical with this being pregnant, however I may have by no means imagined it could occur so quickly.
“I used to be rising pissed off that not one of the specialists inside a 100-mile radius had any obtainable appointments. I began trying round for a brand new specialist on my insurance coverage’s web site after I stumbled throughout a non-public observe, who fortunately had an appointment inside 2 days of me calling and getting a brand new referral. I arrived at my appointment anticipating the same old prenatal questions, anatomy scan, and dietitian follow-up to maintain my gestational diabetes beneath management. When the ultrasound tech positioned the Doppler on my abdomen, the panic set in as her face turned pale and he or she ran out of the room to seize the physician. The physician informed me, ‘somebody is searching for you’ and ordered me, ‘don’t go house, don’t pack a bag, go straight to the hospital.’ It was then that we found my child was measuring ~3 weeks behind in measurement, I had little to no amniotic fluid, and I had reverse finish diastolic circulate of the umbilical twine. That is the final step earlier than a stillbirth would have occurred as she was not receiving any vitamin from my failing placenta. This was August 22nd, and I used to be not on account of have an ultrasound till September 17th. Had I not discovered the non-public MFM after I did, my daughter wouldn’t have made it.
“I used to be admitted to the high-risk L&D, began on a magnesium drip and steroids for lung growth. I ought to have acquired 2 rounds of every, however our child’s coronary heart fee was beginning to expertise sudden decelerations that have been getting extra constant. So 7 hours into my hospital keep, me, the MFM, and my husband referred to as it. We have been going to do a c-section whereas she was nonetheless wholesome, relatively than ready 24 hours for the subsequent rounds of magnesium and steroids and presumably working into an emergent scenario.
“The c-section and my restoration have been fortunately uneventful. My placenta was the dimensions of a hamburger, displaying us how badly it had failed and was clearly the rationale why child stopped rising and her amniotic fluid was disappearing.
“Child did initially expertise respiratory misery syndrome at delivery, however she was stabilized fairly shortly and weaned all the way down to the C-PAP inside a few hours. She was initially on sepsis watch on account of having some episodes, however was cleared and was going to start feeds through her NG tube the subsequent day. All gave the impression to be going properly till that evening of August 24th, when her nurse seen her stomach was very distended. We had simply been discharged and made it house after we have been referred to as to return again for an emergency process. Her abdomen stored filling with air (we consider this was from the C-PAP, as C-PAP stomach in preemies is widespread) nevertheless it was now flowing out between her abdomen and her belly wall. A Penrose drain was positioned to assist launch the air from her stomach. She was instantly positioned on antibiotics and fentanyl for consolation, and we might have to have an exploratory laparotomy to search out the problem.
“She was given a day to relaxation, after which on August 26th, she had the exploratory laparotomy. Thankfully, she remained secure throughout and after surgical procedure. The surgeon was capable of finding a .5cm gap in her abdomen, a gastric perforation on the lesser curve, which was a particularly powerful spot to function on and in no way within the regular space the place perforations usually happen. Her abdomen primarily popped like a balloon. The surgeon expressed her considerations post-surgery, and we might spend the subsequent 2 weeks battling the continued air in her stomach and her OG tubes from popping the stitches open. She was not allowed to eat till she was totally healed. She was on the ventilator for the surgical procedure, and we stored her on the vent in case her stitches opened and he or she’d want one other surgical procedure (we did not need to extubate simply to reintubate). 2 weeks previous surgical procedure, we did an higher GI distinction research to verify that her perforation healed completely. The air in her stomach was nonetheless an issue, however the nurses took nice care to manually aspirate any additional air, measure her stomach continuously, and vent it always.
“As soon as she was cleared, she was lastly capable of eat. She had her first meal at 19 days previous through her feeding tube. She was taken off the ventilator, and we might skip the C-PAP and go straight to excessive circulate oxygen to keep away from additional stomach air. As soon as she began consuming frequently, she lastly started to move meconium, and the air in her stomach resolved. It was all the time my perception from the start that the meconium was blocking her stomach from releasing air, and it appeared like which will have undoubtedly been the case.
“We are actually nearly 10 weeks into our NICU keep and we’ve got made some large enhancements. Together with the surgical procedure, we’ve got battled jaundice (from being on TPNs for therefore lengthy/not consuming), anemia, hypoglycemia, and now we’re within the trenches together with her studying to eat by bottle. This half has been extraordinarily difficult. As we’re getting nearer to discharge, the fact is setting in and hospital payments are starting to flood the mailbox. We’re going to proceed to wish many specialist visits and outpatient therapies on account of her prematurity.
“We have no idea what the long run seems like from a monetary standpoint being that our child has already been hospitalized for nearing 70 days. We’re so grateful for our mates, Alex’s band members, and our household who shortly jumped into motion to assist us bodily and financially. The lodge rooms, home-cooked meals, UberEats present playing cards, taking our older daughter on a whim after I was being admitted. They have been a lifesaver after we have been going by essentially the most tough first few days.
“Any assist in any respect is drastically appreciated. All funds will go in direction of medical payments, any outpatient therapies, follow-up appointments, and serving to to cowl our dwelling bills whereas I am working little to no hours at my job to be at her facet.
“I do know this was a protracted backstory, however when you’ve made it this far, thanks for listening. Even a share may very well be a sport changer for us. I can not categorical how arduous it was to write down this and relive the toughest moments of my life whereas additionally nonetheless going by it. Asking for assist shouldn’t be in our nature, however we’ll do something for our candy child lady.
“With love, the Bent Household.”
