Posted on 03/05/2005 3:19:49 AM PST by beaversmom
MOBILE, Ala. - A medical team at the University of South Alabama's Children's & Women's Hospital have closely monitored the progress of a newborn who weighed only 10 ounces at birth on Feb. 15.
His parents, Phillip and Monica Whitlock, said tiny Malachi Andreas Whitlock is so far holding his own.
"I feel he's got 100 percent chance of survival," his father said.
They said they chose the name Malachi because it's one of the smallest books of the Bible, and Malachi means "messenger of God."
"He's so small, and he's sent a message to us of what love is," the father said.
Dr. Fabien Eyal, the director of USA's neonatal intensive care unit, said, "Everybody's pulling for him, but we know they're in for a very tough time."
Monica Whitlock had an emergency cesarean section after developing high blood pressure.
Malachi, at 10 ounces, weighed about 290 grams at birth. Most babies placed in the unit, Eyal said, weigh around 400 grams. One baby, born at 350 grams, did survive and went home this week.
Eyal attributed the "incredibly low birth weight" to the fact that Malachi stopped growing before his birth. He put Malachi's actual development at 20 weeks at the time of birth.
The normal gestation period is 40 weeks.
Eyal said babies born at 22 to 24 weeks are at "the limit of viability."
Link to Malachi's story, along with a video
We're here for you, always.
Thank you for the ping.
Here's another story from the Mobile Register that I spotted the other day:
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/111459335490440.xml
Losing baby Malachi
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
By ROY HOFFMAN
Staff Reporter
In a sky-blue bedroom with soft-blue baby quilts and big blue teddy bears, Phillip and Monica Whitlock, holding each other close, mourned their baby boy on Tuesday.
"Malachi has touched more people -- and never opened his mouth -- than most people will ever touch," Phillip Whitlock said of his son, who defied the odds by living for 70 days.
Since the beginning of March, when the Mobile Register first printed a story about the baby boy born at 10 ounces after only 24 weeks' gestation, Malachi Andreas Whitlock has been in the prayers of people all over the country.
"He taught us all a lot of lessons," said Phillip, 24, a lean, bearded man who said, "I've cried enough to fill up three 50-gallon drums."
Monica, 26, a soft-spoken woman with long, dark hair, said she and Phillip had stayed awake, keeping vigil, next to Malachi's bed from Saturday morning until Monday late afternoon when he died.
"I held him in my arms," she said, sounding exhausted, "and they took off the life support."
It was only the second time she had been able to hold him, she said.
The first time was on Saturday, after Malachi started having seizures. He was swelling up and taking a critical turn for the worse. Dressed in green hospital scrubs, with Malachi wrapped in a blanket, Monica cradled her newborn lovingly.
"We just couldn't see him suffer anymore," Phillip said. "It was the hardest decision of our lives."
The Whitlocks, who live in Semmes, praised the dedication of the hospital medical team in the neo-natal intensive care unit of University of South Alabama's Children's & Women's Hospital.
With a compact disc they had brought to the hospital playing Vince Gill's mournful and tender "Go Rest High On That Mountain," the respirator was removed on Monday, and Phillip and Monica held Malachi for the last time.
Other relatives were gathered around, along with ministers who are close to the family.
Monica said it was she who had come up with their son's name -- "one of the smallest books in the Bible," Phillip explained, "meaning 'messenger of God'" -- and that it seemed to symbolize Malachi's brief but vast presence in their lives.
Even though he more than doubled in size since his Feb. 15 birth, Malachi weighed only 1 pound, 9 ounces at his death.
A month ago, the Whitlocks turned Phillip's computer room into the blue-themed baby room.
"We never doubted until the day he passed away that he was going to make it," Phillip said.
After stories about the 10-ounce baby's struggle for survival were carried in the media earlier in the spring, the Whitlocks were deluged with cards, e-mails and gifts from well-wishers.
One woman made a quilt for Malachi that has his name embroidered beneath a rocking horse. Another made booties with open toes. "For all the hospital tubes," Phillip said.
Now the blue bedroom is filled with the hope of sweet memories that never came to be.
Perhaps, the parents say, in the future, a child's laughter will indeed fill it. The Whitlocks, with no other children, plan to leave the bedroom just as it is.
Right now they have Thursday to prepare for.
Malachi's casket, measuring just 21 inches by 10 inches, will be covered in white silk, with a white bow on it.
"We plan to play a song sent to us by someone who heard about Malachi over the Internet," Phillip said. That song is "With Hope," by Steven Curtis Chapman.
"He's a true angel," said Phillip, "who brought everybody together in a time of no good news. Whoever's been touched by Malachi, do not let it go in vain."
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at Valhalla Funeral Home in Eight Mile. The funeral will be held Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Valhalla Memorial Gardens.
In addition to Malachi's parents, survivors include his maternal grandparents, Ronnie Branum and Ramona Branum; his paternal grandfather, Gerald Whitlock; his paternal grandmother, Casandra Winters; his maternal great-grandmothers, Gladys Branum and Betty Chancery; and his paternal great-grandmother, Eunice Musgrove, all of Mobile.
Thanks for the links to both of you.
The prayers of our family continue to surround Malachi's entire family.
beaversmom, thank you for presenting Malachi to us. May our Lord Bless you.
BG, thanks for all the pings. You're a pretty special lady!
Prayers continue.
We promise. It will NOT go in vain.
We are here and by your side.
I am so sorry to hear about this. God bless you and your family.
It was so touching to know that you played Vince Gill's song, "Go Rest High". He is the best singer ever and that song touches the heart.
BTTT!!!!!!!
BTT!!!!!!
Lovely Malachi has touched so many in his short time here on earth and he will continue to do so. I pray for your comfort, healing and wonderful blessings in the future.
BG, thank you for the pings. I'm currently only able to get on FR sporadically, but my prayers are definitely not sporadic.
Keep your head down Allegra. I still pray for you every day too.
Bump for prayers for Malachi's Mom and Dad.
I tried to send the photos.
This puter is not at all like it was prior to the crash. So I sure don't know if it's doing what I want it to do or not! ;-)
Look at your EMAIL. ;-)
Thank you for letting us see him! God bless you two and we hope to see you again, sometime real soon!
May you know the Presence of the Lord is with you!
Love to you both! And your family!
Phillip, Mr Pilgrim and I were very impressed with yours and Monica's love of the Lord! Your strength is wonderful and full of Christ!
I loved that, and so did MP.
We will get back with you soon!
Much love and hugs to you two!!!
MALACHI WHITLOCK 
Ping to post #2057!!
LadyPilgrim visited Phillip, Monica and Malachi...and they asked if she'd post these pictures.
God bless you all...
Prayers continue, Phillip & Monica. Forever and ever!!
Thank you for the pics---what a courageous fight he put up--
God Bless the family and prayers that the pain will ease with time.....
sleuth
Tears here. Phillip and Monica I just wish I could give you a hug. What a beautiful little angel he was.
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