A miracle amidst the chaos.

August 5, 2020 We arrived to the hospital about an hour early from when I was supposed to arrive. We even left early, to stop and have I get a blessing from my husband and Father In-law, and to take Shadow to the doggy resort. We went to Dairy Queen for dinner and took it to the parking lot of the hospital to wait until 7:00pm. I was 39 weeks and going to be induced this evening. My Doctor informed me weeks ago that he prefers to induce at 39 weeks, because the likeliness of C-Section is less than if you go longer than 39 weeks. Brandon and I decided that was good for us and we would follow his guidance and be induced at 39 weeks. The time was just before 7 and we decided to head in a little early. Entering the delivery room it felt like it was 900 degrees. The nurse asked me to change into a robe, and then she would be back in to hook up the monitors, and begin to start the inducement. I did as she asked and before I knew it was hooked up, listening to my little baby’s heart beat gave me comfort. I was having slight contractions, but was not sure if they were Braxton hicks or actual contractions. "Looks like you are having contractions, but are only dilated to a 2. Let me call the Doctor and see what he would like to do. Do you want any flavored ice chips?" "Sure, and some regular ones." Sitting on the bed, Brandon sat by me and we turned on the TV unaware of how long it would be. The nurse came back in shortly, and told us the plan. "We are going to see if your body will go on its own, if by midnight you are still at a 2 than we will induce you then, try and get some sleep." Sleep for me at this time was no very possible, or comfortable. Brandon went to the bed they had made for him out of the couch in the room, and I sat watching TV, monitors hooked up to me the sound of baby's heartbeat was very soothing to hear. Midnight rolled around and they started me on Pitocin, to start the inducement. She came and was gone, checking in every two hours and adding more Pitocin as needed. The next morning I had a new nurse, Mary, she was excellent. She came in to check on things and bring Brandon Breakfast, she also turned to me and said let me see if I can get you something other than ice chips. She got me some yogurt and cereal. She came in again to check dilation, and to ask if it wanted an epidural. "I don’t know if I will need the epidural." I told her very confidently, even though the contractions were getting worse, and painful. Mary gave me the look of hmm we will see about that. "Well you let me know when you would like it." Hours passed, still the progression of dilation was going very slow at about 4pm of August 6, 2020 I was dilated to a 4 and the contractions were pretty bad I requested the epidural. By shift change 7pm baby had not come. My Doctor had just broken my water, but still no baby. I finally was dilated to a 5 at 8pm. My nurse changed her name was Janet and she was awesome, she assured us that from now on it would go fast. It did the Doctor came in between 9 and 10. I had the best coaches, My Husband, doctor and nurses were amazing helping me and telling when to push. At 10:03pm I heard the most wonderful sound in the world. My sons first cry. They handed me this beautiful boy who reacted to my voice. "Easton." I talked to him and held him in my arms. He responded to my voice, and didn’t cry as much. He began to cough, and the nurses took him to get cleaned up. Exhausted from pushing I looked to my doctor who looked really concerned. He turned to the nurse saying something about the placenta. There was too much going on I didn’t hear what he had said. "Brandon why don't you go to the nursery with Easton." Doctor Bradshaw suggested. Brandon nodded and left with Easton and the nurses. Janet, and Dr. Bradshaw then turned to where I could hear. "The placenta will not detach, if I can’t get it out we will have to go in and get it out." Janet left for a moment and came back with another nurse. The plan was to see if the doctor could get the placenta to come out. The two nurses held my hands while he tried to get it out. This pain was the worst pain I had ever experienced. No matter how hard he pulled, that placenta was not coming out. "Well, we have to take her to the OR to get it out, the risk of this surgery is hemorrhaging, or having to have the uterus removed are you ok with those possibilities?" Nervously and emotionally I nodded. This may be the only child we have due to circumstances. I honestly had hoped I would be able to have more, but the worry of the unknown took hold. Nurses came in having me sign papers, I signed them without really reading them. The epidural was wearing off so the anesthesiologist came in and did another one to prep for surgery. Brandon met us at the door, and he was informed what was going to take place, he was taken by a different nurse to a different room. I was wheeled down to the OR. They had given me a slight sedative, and they prepped me for the surgery putting the oxygen on me I closed my eyes and heard "We are in trouble." It was white all around me, I was dressed in white and looked my surroundings. I was in a white room, there was a door at the end of the room, and walking over to it I reached for the door handle. Before I could open the door I heard my name being called beyond the door and on this side of the door I turned to see 3 Tall men dressed in white. "You can’t be here yet, you have to go back." One of the men was my Grandpa Peterson. The other two I didn’t know. They escorted me away from the door and I opened my eyes. The room was extremely fuzzy, I felt sick and opened my mouth to talk but nothing came out, I couldn't speak. There was no energy to speak. I tried again. "I’m going to throw up." "We will get you some medicine for that." With what energy I had I nodded, and closed my eyes again. I was gaining consciousness. Where am I. trying to think where I was and what happened the people in the room moved me from the table to a bed, and covered me with warm blankets. Blinking I looked at my hands one had my IV and the other had another IV but was red. I realized ok today I had a baby, and they had to take the placenta out. I was headed for recovery and then back to my room to be with my husband and baby. Reaching my room I saw Brandon, but not baby. Where is my baby? My body began to shiver, not because I was cold but because I was in shock. I couldn’t stop shaking, and was in pain. The nurses assisted me, by giving me the right dosage of medicine. The shaking finally subsided. I wanted to ask where my baby was but the tiredness took over and I began to drift off to sleep. Just as I fell asleep, the Pediatrician on call came into our room. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, your son is breathing to fast, at this rate he is so exhausted, and will just give up, our best solution is to life flight him to the Utah Valley NICU. They have the right tools to help him." He asked what our insurance was and left again. I was so confused, what happened? When he came in again, I asked. He had swallowed some amniotic fluid, and was struggling to breath. He told us he had just called the hospital up there and Life flight was on its way. I looked at the clock it read 3am. The doctor left. "You have to go up there to be with him." I said to my husband who tried to argue with me. "What about you?" "He needs you more than I do." I picked up my phone to call my mom and ask if she would come sit with me. Brandon stepped out of the room for a moment. After talking with my parents to let them know the plan and news. I prayed, for understanding, for Easton to be safe and for us to be able to take him home eventually. We have waited so long, please don't take him back already. Brandon came back in the room and I heard the helicopter land. The nurses from Utah Valley brought Easton in for me to see him before he went. The slid the box with my son in its closest to the bed. There were so man monitors, and tubes running in and out of my son. It was so hard to see him like this, he was only a couple hours old and was completely exhausted. I reached up to touch his hand, he instantly opened his hand and latched his tiny fingers around my index finger. I talked to him and tried not to cry, but the emotions took hold of me. They sat there for a short time and then they had to take him to go.

My Nurse Janet came in to check on us. She asked how we were. I responded. "Well doing ok under the circumstances." Nodding she proceeded to check my vitals, and reminded me to wear my oxygen. "Janet, what happened? I know I had a baby and then went to have the placenta removed but after that what happened?" "Well, they got your placenta out, and you started to hemorrhage really bad, you lost just over 2 liters of blood, and they had to put a balloon in your uterus to get the bleeding to stop, when I came down to bring the doctor what he needed, you were so pale, I didn’t think you were still with us, and then they did the blood transfusion. Remember you have to wear your oxygen. Try and get some sleep." Around shift change my Nurse was Mary again the next day. She felt so bad that we were there with those circumstances. "My mom is going to come and take Brandon’s place, when he leaves." I stated. Mary nodded and closed the door. She informed us she was not going to let anyone in for an hour, and we needed to sleep. 8am Brandon gathered his things and headed to pick up Shadow to Take her home, and then to get his Dad to go up to the NICU to be with Easton. My mom showed up and sat with me while I recovered. I was released from the hospital on the Saturday after. Sunday drove up to the NICU to see my son. Due to Covid only one parent could visit at a time. I could barely walk, I was still so swollen, and in pain. But I pushed through. They offered me a wheelchair when I got there so I could go visit my son. Entering the NICU I saw how many babies were in there it broke my heart to see so many small babies. But thankful that there were such special nurses there to help our little ones who needed a little extra help. Jada, Easton’s Nurse met me at the end of the hall where Easton was sleeping soundly. She asked how I was and I told her about our experience. "Easton" I called his name and he opened his eyes looking for me. Jada helped me check his vitals, and then allowed me to change his diaper. She then sat me down and allowed me to hold my son. "When was the last time you held him?" "When he was born." She got teary when I told her that. Easton and I had been reunited. He reached up with his little hand and touched my face. He was so happy to see me.

Before I knew it, the day was over and I once again had to leave my little boy. I knew we would be reunited again soon, and that he had the best care where he was. I am so thankful for the nurses at Utah Valley NICU, they truly are angels. Easton was in the NICU for a week. He was able to come home. I know for a fact that I almost didn’t make it, and was brought back by angels. One of which was my Grandpa. The other two I am not sure who they were. I know that the reason I came back was to be a mother to my son. The call for me to be here was greater than the call on the other side. I am so thankful for the doctors, nurses, for family and friends who helped us through this. The miracles in this were definitely the birth of my son Easton Reed Wilberg, my and Easton’s survival, and the safety we had in all the traveling up to the NICU and back home. I am so thankful for my Husband who endured through this will calmness, faith, and hope. My little Family is safe and healthy, we are truly blessed.