I am figuring if you are reading this blog then you know who we are so there really is no need for an introduction. And I am sure that in future blog posts you will learn more about the lives of Chris and Robyn, however I just want to dedicate this post to our sweet boy, Collin Christopher Shelton.
*The majority of this post will come from my dad's email updates he sent to family throughout the past week and a half.*
Chris and I first discovered there were complications with my pregnancy on Wednesday, August 11 (which happened to be Chris's birthday). I was 23 and a half weeks along and Chris had just got home from his internship in California so we were going in for the ultrasound to find out the gender of our little baby. It is in that ultrasound that they discovered that the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby was extremely low (only about 1 cm when there should have been 10 - 13 cm). I was sent to a Perinatologist (fetal specialist) on Friday where some tests were run and then I met with them again on Monday, at which time the Perinatologist admitted me to the hospital in order to closely monitor the baby's heart rate. We made it to Friday, August 20, before our little boy was born.
*From my dad's update about Collin's birth*
As you are likely aware by now, Robyn (who was 24 weeks and 5 days into her pregnancy) had her baby, little Collin Christopher Shelton, on Friday August 20, 2010. He weighed in at a whopping 15 ounces and is 9-10 inches long. Mother and baby are doing well. Here is an update from the perspective of a grandpa.
Friday was a very long day. It started at 1:30 a.m. with a text from Chris saying that the baby was under stress and having "dips" in its heart rate. They called the perinatologist specialist who lives in Park City and he drove to the hospital. By about 3:00 a.m., the dips in the heart rate had subsided and there was some hope that things would settle down. A few hours later, an ultrasound was done where the perinatologist (Robyn's doctor) and the neonatologist (the baby's doctor) made the determination that the baby would do better outside of the womb than inside of the womb. Later that day, both doctors told us that the timing of the situation was critical. When talking about this with the neonatologist I asked what the impact to the baby would have been if he had stayed inside for another week or two and he said, "He would have died....there would have been zero chance for survival." He said that even if they had waited another six hours, the baby would have had severe challenges. He compared it to the baby trying to breathe out of a very skinny "coffee straw". The perinatologist compared it to the baby having just run a marathon and then having his breathing severley constricted. Anyway, we are confident that the doctors made the correct decision to deliver the baby.
After giving Robyn a priesthood blessing at about 9:15 a.m. they whisked her in to the operating room at about 9:35 a.m. The operating doctor told us that the whole process would take about an hour. He said that the most critical issue for the baby would be whether or not they could get a tube down his throat to hook up the breathing equipment. He said that if they couldn't do that "the baby would pass." Our family was together when they took Robyn to the operating room and we had a kneeling prayer together asking God for a miracle and then started to read our chapter from the Book of Mormon together as a family as we waited. The Sheltons arrived and then just after 10 a.m. a smiling nurse stuck her head in the door to say that all had gone well, that the baby was born at 9:56 a.m., that they had inserted the tube and that the heart beat of the baby was good. We all said a prayer of gratitude in our hearts that a miracle had occured and that Collin was OK and now had a chance for survival.
Chris arrived at about 10:30 a.m. and told us about details of the surgery and how once the baby came a team of 8-10 doctors and nurses surrounded the baby and whisked him into a warm room to begin working on him. He said that it was absolutely amazing how the neo-natal team functioned. Robyn came back at about 10:45 a.m. very tired, sore and medicated. We knew that she needed rest. However, she and Chris made the decision to give the baby the name Collin Christopher Shelton and we received permission from the bishop to give the baby a name and a blessing in the hospital Robyn wanted to be with us when that occured and since Collin was doing well, Chris decided to wait until a little later in the day to give the name and blessing. All of the adults aged 18 and over were able to visit the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NIC-U) and see little Collin. He is a marvel as you can see in the picture. His eyes and head are covered and will be for sometime as the eyes and brain are the last to develop. We have been told that the first 24-48 hours are a honeymoon period where the micro-premie babies usually do great then next week Collin will start to grow and challenges will start to develop that they will need to address. Anyway, little Collin is a fighter and has been trying to get all of the needles and tubes out of his body which is a great sign, but he needs to rest and grow. They have told us that we should expect Collin to be in the NIC-U until his original due date of December 5th. We are extremely thankful for exceptional care and highly trained medical personnel.
Robyn really wanted to see Collin and we planned to give the baby his name and blessing at about 5:30 p.m. She tried to get up and get into a wheelchair and actually passed out into Chris' arms. We got her back into bed, but her heart rate dropped to about 40 and she wasn't doing well. Her doctors came and changed her medication (taking away most of them including the Magnesium that she didn't seem to do well with). An ICU doctor came as well and they decided that Robyn should be moved to the cardiac floor of the hospital where her heart rate could be better monitored. At 11 p.m. last night we were able to take Robyn while on her hospital bed to see little Collin which was an emotional moment for Robyn and all of us. We then got Robyn and Chris settled into the cardiac floor (which is not nearly as nice as the maternity floor).
The latest this morning is that Robyn is feeling much better. Little Collin is also reportedly doing well. Robyn is expected to be in the hospital for another 3-4 days. We are so thankful for the faith and prayers of our family and friends. A miracle has occured and is continuing to occur. We pray that miracles will continue to occur.
*From my dad's update about Collin's passing*
Little Collin Christopher Shelton passed away this afternoon at 4:29 p.m. in Robyn's arms with Chris at her side along with Collin's grandparents. We appreciate the faith and prayers of so many people all over the world for little Collin. Our prayers were answered in that Collin received a body, a name and a blessing and has done all that he needs to do to be saved in the Celestial Kingdom. We are also thankful and accept the Will of the Lord because we know that Collin must have a great work to do on the other side of the veil. Late this evening Alysa (age 7) said, "It is kind of like Collin just left on a mission." Alysa understands the Plan of Salvation. After Collin's birth on Friday he fought hard and was doing well. Chris (who spent the most time with Collin) felt that following his blessing on Sunday afternoon that his little body began to fail because he had accomplished what was needed in this life. Obviously, a name and blessing are not essential to Collin's exaltation, but it seemed as though that is what Collin wanted. Last night he was struggling some with his breathing and had his oxygen levels turned up pretty high, which is not highly concerning, but obviously not a great sign either.
On Monday morning at about 9 a.m. Robyn and Chris went to see Collin and found that the NICU staff were calling for them as Collin was in distress with his oxygen levels dropping into the 40s. Janis and I, along with Chris' parents arrived at the hospital shortly thereafter and found doctors and nurses doing all they could to help Collin, but it just wasn't working. It seems that Collin's kidneys were not properly functioning to remove the buildup of moisture in his body. This lead to several challenges, the most serious of which was pressure on his little lungs. Air was forming around his heart and in other parts of his body and they inserted a tube in his chest to remove the air. This worked for a while and gave us hope, but his oxygen levels only improved temporarily. They gave him nitric oxide as a last resort to improve the oxygen level in the blood and it worked a little, but not enough. With 6 or 7 hours of little Collin's oxygen levels being in the 40s, 50s and 60s (they should stay above 85) the doctors finally said that Collin's brain would not be able to function and there was nothing more that could be done to help him. I should note that the doctors assured us that they had medicated Collin during these procedures and during his last hours so he was at peace and not suffering in pain.
Chris and Robyn gave prayerful consideration to the options presented to them and the decision was made to allow Collin to pass. We summoned the children to come to the hospital and they were allowed to surround Collin, touch him and express their love. Interestingly, Collin's vital statistics slightly improved, but it was really too late and we believe more of a sign that Collin loved his family. The doctors then allowed Robyn to hold little Collin in her arms. Chris was able to give him a priesthood blessing asking his Spirit to go home to his Heavenly Father and he quietly passed away moments later in his mother's loving arms at 4:29 p.m.
It was a tearful time for all of us, but we have faith to know that Collin is happy and has returned to the loving arms of our Savior and will be with loved ones who have passed previously. What a valant fight he gave under such trying conditions. We prayed for a miracle and feel that a miracle has occured as we were allowed to be with his sweet spirit for just over three days.
Robyn was released from the hospital this evening and has returned home. She has some recovery time ahead of her, but she is doing well. Chris and Robyn are obviously sad that they are now planning a graveside service (probably on Saturday), but they will be fine. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
Thank you again for your faith and prayers in behalf of Robyn and Collin. We are sad that Collin has passed, but happy to know that God lives and loves each of his children. He has a plan for Collin and we accept that plan. Among other things, we have learned how precious life is and how we are all in God's hands and we can be taken at any time.
I know this post is already extremely long. But I just want to add a couple things. Chris and I are so incredibly grateful for the knowledge we have of the Plan of Salvation. We know without a doubt that we will be with Collin again and that he is sealed to us for all eternity. That knowledge brings peace. However, despite that peace and comfort it is still really hard. It’s hard to be recovering from a c-section without my little baby boy by my side. It’s hard thinking to the future about all of our plans for little Collin, knowing that everything has changed and will never be the same. Chris and I love Collin more than we could ever imagine. Collin Christopher Shelton is our little angel boy.
