CHILDREN ARE A MIRACLE OF LIFE: SAMUEL'S STORY
Hi, my name is Angela and I have a special boy named Samuel, now 2 - he is our miracle boy! He was born in the United Kingdom by caesarean section due to fetal stress and complications. These complications included being small, seizures, muscle contractions and hemorrhages, but the main concern was that he stopped breathing. He started out on life support and within a few hours was transferred from the local hospital to a neonatal intensive care unit in London that specialized in very sick children. Where he got the help he needed.
I was discharged after three days and then went to London to be with Samuel. The same day my husband (Adam) and I arrived at Samuel's hospital we were told by the doctors that Samuel would probably be a vegetable as he had so many problems. Our heart sank to the ground; they recommended that if he had another fit that night that it would probably be for the best not to resuscitate. It was our decision! Adam and I realized that it was the right one, as he would not have much of a life if he remained in that state. We went back to our room and cried and prayed all-night. Everything felt like a roller coaster, happy one minute and sad the next!
We knew that we had to be his mummy and daddy for him for however long he had. We talked to him, held his hand and prayed to God for strength and help. I immediately phoned mum in Australia and gratefully she came out on the next plane to be with us, "what the relief!"
The next day brought a slight improvement on the tests and scans. We knew at that moment that God was performing a miracle and that Samuel was improving. Samuel was now four days old and we held him for the first time, with tubes and probes attached. Each day Samuel improved, a tube or monitor would be taken away and he started to breathe by himself with a bit of oxygen to help. The doctors were amazed at how well he improved each day. Finally after 3 1/2 weeks we were transferred back to the local hospital. After only five weeks of life Samuel had started to breast-feed and we were finally able to take him home.
At two months of age an operation was needed when a big bleed was detected behind his right eye that started to lift the retina. Another operation was also needed within the week, only two days before Christmas. On Christmas Eve the doctors said we could go home provided that we could keep him upright. It was difficult with changing, sleeping, and feeding, but we did it! Unfortunately another appt showed that the retina had detached and that nothing else could be done, he would go blind in the right eye .
After a few months Samuel was achieving all the milestones and going extremely well despite his vision. The whole ordeal has made us appreciate the miracle of life, and that we should not take it for granted. We feel for others in the same situation and how precious our children are to us, especially when they have learning and/or physical difficulties. Seeing each milestone that Samuel achieves is a real wonder to us. We never grow tired of marveling at this and thanking God for him. What a joy we have today OUR MIRACLE BOY .
Samuel is now two years old as of October and how wonderful it is to have him here with us today. He enjoys coming along to EDP especially as it's one-on-one and he gets help from Townsend house with visual play therapy and also sees a speech therapist.
Click on one of the following links to read about these children and their families.
Jarod's Story A 3 year old with epilepsy, cerebral palsy and global developmental delay.
Samuel now 2 has a vision impairment and associated delays.
Georga has started kindy now. She was a floppy baby at birth and has recently started having seizures.
Matthew is 3 and enjoys life. His development has improved incredibly since the early days.
Izabella has dispraxia. Find out her parents worries, fears and hopes.
A grandparent shares his wishes, joys and fears with respect to his disabled grandson.