Hayden’s transition from the womb to the world wasn’t an easy one. Hayden had stopped growing and required a C-section at 33 weeks while he was only 3 pounds and 15 ounces. Not soon after Hayden’s birth, he stopped breathing on two separate occasions. He was put on a C-PAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine and taken to the AdventHealth NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Melissa was understandably scared because of the uncertainty of her new baby’s life. Initially, she wasn’t able to stay nearby and had to go home, 45 minutes away from her newborn. Luckily, a spot opened at the Ronald McDonald house near AdventHealth Orlando, allowing her to spend much more time with Hayden as he made progress. There was hope for Hayden to be able to go home early with Melissa but then he started to develop Bradycardia. Bradycardia is an abnormally slow heart rate that can lead to shortness of breath and other symptoms. Over the course of Hayden’s time in the NICU, Melissa said the staff truly extended the healing ministry of Christ.
“The head nurse went above and beyond for Hayden. She ensured that we had everything we needed for him to heal and she was absolutely fantastic. I didn’t know if Hayden would survive but he is a success story because of the NICU, and he’s been great ever since.”
After one month, Hayden went home with Melissa when he reached about 5 pounds. He still wore an apnea monitor to keep track of his breathing. If he ever stopped breathing, the alarm would blare so Melissa and her husband knew to try and help him. That nightmare came true one night but Hayden, being a fighter, brought himself back out of Bradycardia.
Since then, Hayden is now a healthy 9-year-old boy who Melissa says is, “quite the handful.” But she attributes him being here today to the care he received at AdventHealth.
“The NICU provided us with the life-saving technology we needed to make sure Hayden survived. The doctors and nurses did everything they could to care for him. Without their care and the equipment, I’m not sure if Hayden would be here today.”
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