Just heard from Karmi's mum. Little one is stable and doing fine. Her FM85 "milkshake" has been increased to 22ml per hour. The ophthalmologist was there again today and so far Bunny's eyes are healthy. Mum says it is sooooooo good to hold her baby tonight after a whole day apart.
Another anonymous donation. Total now at R22 000. I wish it were possible to thank each and every one of you in person. Thank you for all the kindness shown. It is truly uplifting, despite sadness and crisis.
Anyhooo. Karmi's mom went back to work today so that she may resume her maternity leave once Bunny is released from hospital. Mum will have to leave Fourways very early each morning as she works near Hartbeespoort. After work she will drive back to see Bunny. Dad will try his best to spend time during the day, but he has his own small business so that is hard too. May they be safe on our roads and find strength in knowing they are doing what is best for their baby. Meantime, Bunny is stable and has been transferred to the regular NICU!
Wow... I really don't know how to respond to these beautiful, but undeserved messages. We don't do good because we want something in return. It is a matter of principle. Either you believe in it or you don't. I guess.
https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/169596-auction-hasie-the-robots-design-bogus-designs-paintjob/ Two auctions under one link here. https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/169811-auction-full-set-of-anatomic-custom-gear-lets-help-a-preemie/ Other one here.
We are blessed with the support of Bogus Designs, Hasie & the Robots, as well as Anatomic, (3 auctions currently running). Yes, Karmi's parents are going to be hit with the mother of all hospital accounts, but they are not the only ones. May I ask, please, those of you who are willing to donate that R100, split it so half goes to Karmi and the other half to F.R.A.I.L-K? https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/168435-funding-not-been-able-2-work-4-126-days/
Update: Karmi is holding her own with no oxygen. What a little fighter! She is still getting 20ml per hour FM85 milkshake. Weight is up to 1.3kg. Incredibly, there is talk of moving her from the isolation nicu to the regular nicu soon. Way to go, Bunny!!! EDIT: Isn't it amazing what pretty new clothes can do for a girl?
Any chance that the ladies will be getting a stock trail jersey too? If I may give some of my own preferences: NO elastic, relaxed fit, short sleeved (not sleeveless though), round neck with 1/3 or 1/2 length zipper. I currently own some Anatomic "Crater Cruise" jerseys. Bought them oversized and had the elastic removed. Nice fabric. Close to perfect EDIT: Spelling
And here comes the big reveal: Bunny in a onesie AND with no nasal cannulas! They still have to give her meds for lung function though and she is still on 20 ml / hour FM85 milkshake. Is it just me or is that preemie hat still a wee bit large?
Is everyone sitting down? Have the glass of sugar water on hand? Patchelicious just donated R5000 **faints** I am stunned, speechless and grateful beyond measure. Thank you. EDIT: So that makes R19 950
Thank you to Mtgoat and Pointer! We are now at R14 950! Next update on Karmi's condition will be this afternoon. Mom is taking the morning off (under protest) and dad is sitting with Bunny.
Update: Huge scare again this morning! When the nurse handed Bunny to her mom, baby's saturation and heart rate just plummeted. She was fine again a while later. She is still getting 20ml / hour fortified milk and oxygen via nasal cannulas. Although risky, the unit manager has indicated that they have to start weaning Bunny off the oxygen now. This is going to be such a stressful time for her poor parents...
Update: The doctor is concerned because Bunny isn't really gaining weight. She went from 1.20 to 1.24 kg in a week (40g). They cannot increase the volume of milk she is given, so a dietician will try to figure out what can safely be added to the milk to increase weight gain.
Understandably, they are tired, stressed and still grieving. They are being strong for their little girl. According to them, the support of family, friends and kind strangers helps to keep going. I think they will get a huge emotional boost from now being able to safely hold Bunny
Daily update: Karmi is stable - 21% oxygen and 19ml milk per hour. According to the night shift she really cries when she gets hungry. An appetite can only be a good sign! For the first time, she is also stable during an hour or two of kangaroo care.
Tiny, but fierce! Don't mess with her pacifier! Another anonymous donation of R 1 000 brings us to R 12 750. Thank you for helping "our" little Bunny and her parents cope with a really tough road still ahead. EDIT: PS: Turn the sound up
Okay, I have some good news and I have some good news Bunny is now coping with 21% oxygen and a nasal cannula. She is digesting 19 ml milk per hour well. Best of all: the ophthalmologist has found no signs of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) which can cause blindness. He will check her eyes again at 34 weeks, because she is still so small. And here is the little miss:
Not sure. It is no secret that tiny preemies don't produce their own blood cells and that red blood cells don't last as long in their little bodies. But neither of these factors should require weekly (or even more frequent) transfusions. But what do I know? I'm no doctor. Just worried.
Daily update: Not too much to report, which is good She still cannot cope without the 22% oxygen supplement, but the doctor thinks that might be due to the hole in her heart which has not yet closed completely. At least she has not needed CPAP again. Stable on 19 ml milk per hour for the time being. Great news is that her brain scans have come back clear, but that still begs the question of why she is struggling so much with severe anemia despite regular transfusions. Where is the blood going?
