Posted on 11/24/2012 2:11:23 PM PST by El Gato
I would like to enlist the services of the Prayer Warriors for the grandson of a little girl who lived in my neighborhood when I was growing up. She's obviously not so little now, but is in need of your prayers.
Keegan James Dondlinger was born yesterday, November 23, 2012, but was due March 4, 2013, three days after my own grandson is due. He weighed 1.85 lbs, but he looks very well developed for being so young and so little.
He's been able to open his eyes, and to grasp his mother's finger.
Just went over to see him and not alot new to say. His head is getting softer and maybe a tad bit smaller, he is already more active in moving his arms and legs. Feedings are planned to start again tomorrow with him completely off the I.V. by Monday. At this point it is pretty much enjoy the present and don't think about the future.
Hang in there little buddy.
I’m happy he’s doing so well. None of us knows what the future holds, and the doctors may give a prognosis, but God has the final word. They are wise to just love and enjoy their little guy, and give him the very best care.
:)Little fighter.
Praise God!!! Prayers continue...
Thanks for the update El Gato. HUGS to the family of this wee one. Prayers for all.
Yes he is.
They posted a picture, which for some reason I can’t link to, that shows him smiling, in the way that babies do, up at his Dad. He looks uncomfortable, but determined. He was reportedly sticking out his tongue and licking his lips the way babies do when they are Hongry!. But no food until tomorrow, just his IV, by Monday that is to be removed.
He’s about as big as my twin grands were when they left the hospital. Three plus weeks after being born in the case of Miss K, the older but smaller one. She was already giving the best hugs you’d ever want to have. And when she wants to, she still gives them. Her twin is free with hugs too, but the nature of them just isn’t the same. They are 5 now, and I will see them, and their Big Sis, tomorrow.
Send the pic link to Kathy in Alaska she can do wonders.gosh that sounds so wonderful about Keegan.Grandpa has a favorite with Miss K,:) (((( Hugs)))
“”Hang in there little buddy.””
Amen to that, and thank you Lord, for this small one. His presence reminds us all of both the strength, and fragility of life. And thank you for guiding Keegan’s medical team, as they work.
May God bless.
Tatt
Ladyiris58, I just got pinged to this thread. I didn’t know about the “setback” that Keegan had. I’ve gone back and brought myself up to date. At this time I am holding out for Keegan to pull through this. My prayers are going up for him and all the family. Don’t lose hope. And welcome to FR.
We know what you are going through. When one of our grandsons was born they told us he had no real brain and would not live. He lived. He grew a brain and functions pretty much as someone with Cerebral Palsy. He is a sweetheart and is now 10 yrs old.
Worry not FRiend. Thanks to your efforts,it is fairly certain that this small one has taken up residence on more than a few daily, nightly, hourly ;) prayer lists.
May God bless and keep you, and all who pray in another’s behalf.
Tatt
No Grandpa does not have a favorite. Just for hugs. She can be a bully, she’s so much smarter than the kids she’s been going to special needs school that she can get away with bullying them. She also gets bored and that leads to discipline problems. However this last week every day was “green”, which means something like “no demerits” at all. She was bribed though. If she’d not had a good week, she’d not have been able to attend her Aunt’s baby shower. But in the event, she and her twin were amazing. No problems at all, well except Ms. E tended to get a little loud, as she usually does. But since she was sitting on Grandpa’s lap, that got shushed right quick. She responded fine, she forgets herself, sort of like her grandpa.
And while being on their best behavior, they actually had a good time. While at their house waiting, they weren’t so good, but as Ms. E told Grandma, “We’re just excited”. After the shower was over, I told them both how proud I was of them, asked if there would be another “green” week. Ms. K didn’t answer, but Ms. E, the loudmouth, did, saying “yes.. well maybe one blue” She’s honest to a fault sometimes. :)
They both took to the upcoming baby’s other grandma amazingly quickly, Ms. K was giving her a hug before we even got inside the place, but E also got her hugs and lap time in. :) I think younger daughter had her prepped for the twins being hellions, since sometimes they are. But she thanked them afterwards too, and told them how glad she was that they came. the other grandma was in Grandma Heaven, the new baby will be her first, but she also only has sons, and so having two little girls hug on her was, well it was great to see.
Their big sister used part of her Christmas book store gift certificate to buy a book for her new boy cousin. Her own idea. She chose, “Pokey Little Puppy”, which she liked as a little girl, but then so did her mother and her aunt. Ms. V interacted nicely with the “other grandpa” too. But she kept asking the other guests, including the two close friends who put it on, “are you going to the Dallas shower next week?” and “why not?”
I was so proud of all three granddaughters yesterday.
well his weight last night was 5lbs 2oz but that includes all the extra water weight from everything they put in him during surgery. good news is his head didn't grow yesterday so the shunt appears to be working at least for the short-term
That’s bigger than my twin granddaughters were when they were allowed to leave the NICU and hospital after they were born. But I’m sure his lungs aren’t in as a good a shape as theirs were. The doctors knew they’d be preemie, so gave steroids to help their lungs develop a little early. As it turned out, the little one, Ms. K, never needed any help breathing, Ms. E, now the loudmouth, only needed a little extra air in a tube with little ‘prongs’ that directed the air into her nose, and that only for part of the first day. Ms E got to leave after less than a week, but it was over 3 weeks before Ms. K got big enough. Got some of those great hugs, in a very tiny version, during those weeks, when I’d take her mom to the hospital for feedings.
Thank you for the update! Prayers continue...
Good news for now. Prayers continue for Keegan’s steady improvement.
They sound so beautiful El Gato.So the guys went to the shower:)Our youngest grandchild is Baby G.He lets you hug him but just learned the word stop.He is 14 months.It’s so funny,your hugging him and he says stop.Our youngest great granddaughter is 6 weeks old.Lily.Prayers for Your Baby K.coming in a special way on Wednesday.Our little fighter.((((Hugs))))
Yes, the guys went. Quite a few actually. It’s the New Way.
Only the second shower I’ve been to. I was the stand in Grandpa at the first one, since the mother’s parents lived in Korea, being Korean and all.
At that previous shower, there were a few guys besides me. But one of the ladies who was there, was wearing ACUs (Army Combat Uniform) she had some of sort of “duty officer” duty, but as long as she was close and contactable, she didn’t have to be physically at her post. The Dad is an Army Captain.
Since we haven't said anything in a while figured I'd give an update. Neonatologist just called and they are weaning him off the vent with his settings going lower every day. The neurologist adjusted his shunt today (I didn't ask specifics cuz that doesn't sound pleasant) but they are doing another ultrasound Monday to see how his head is doing. We are going up in a little bit so I'll get the stats everyone likes to hear when we talk to his nurse tonight.
And
OK so he is still 5lbs 1oz and still kinda puffy. He is down to 20bpm on his vent. His head hasn't gotten smaller but that isn't a bad thing and it hasn't gotten bigger. He is also up to 16.75 inches long. There anything else we should ask at 8pm?
Might be another yet tonight, or tomorrow, if they got more information at 8pm. They live over an hour from the hospital, so they might wait until tomorrow to post.
Thank you for keeping us informed. Prayers continue...
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