Sunday, March 22, 2009

H.E.L.L.P.

We spent Thursday with Sora. The boys got to play with Corban and I got to play with my Kaylee!! Ben had taken the express bus to work like usual but came home on the light rail. I picked him up so we could go visit a couple we know from when Ben went to ASU. Brandon and Paula Benzing were pregnant with their first child due at the end of May. When she was almost 28 weeks the doctors told her to go straight to the hospital. WHen there they told her that she had a rare illness called HELLP. The only way to save them both is to deliver the baby!

HELLP syndrome is a rare but serious illness in pregnancy. This illness can start quickly, most often in the last 3 months of pregnancy (the third trimester). It can also start soon after you have your baby. HELLP stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzyme levels and a Low Platelet count. These are problems that can occur in women with this syndrome.


Baby Isaac was born by c-section on March 6th weighing 1 lb. 15 oz.




At 2 weeks he now weighs about 2 and a half lbs.


We went to visit them at Banner Desert hospital. We were able to go in a see Isaac in the NICU. He was so small but so very cute! As soon as we got close to him his heartrate went up because he was so excited to see his mommy! And when Paula opened the door to his incubator it went up again because she reached in to take one of his cords out of his hand. It was so sweet and comforting to see that he had his own little personality and that he knew and loved his mommy.

Just two weeks ago Paula found out that she had this illness and that she needed to have the baby NOW! They had thought that they had 3 months to get ready! I can not imagine the emotions that she must have been going through! I was just in awe with how great she looked and just the simple fact that she was showered and dressed was amazing to me!!

This is a website (kinda like a blog):



We are praying for the Benzing family and hopefully Isaac will continue to grow and will be able to go home soon!

Here is the diaper cake I made him for the hospital! sorry it's a bad picture it was taken with my cell in a dark NICU.


3 comments:

The McNeil Family said...

Wowo crazy stuff, that is alittle baby. I have never seen one that small before. I hope that all goes well with him. I love the diaper cake. I wanted to see if you can maek me one, for my sister. I am throwing her shower this friday and would love to have one for decorations. I have soon much to do for it that I will not have the time to make one. If you can call me

Tawnya said...

Cute cake! That would be so rough to go through all that and have to leave a teeny little baby in the hospital. I hope it all works out for them.

Momnerd said...

Oh my goodness, soo tiny. I just can't even believe he is surviving at such a small size. I am so glad they're both okay. And your diaper cake is adorable!!