The Best Laid Plans...

Well, surprise, Matthew decided to make plans of his own! He's resting (or maybe undergoing more tests) at the moment so he asked me to write and update you all. Get ready for this.

Matthew decided to make his grand appearance yesterday morning, three days before William and Nikki were scheduled to fly to Boston to await his arrival, and alas, the child's agenda trumps all. He was born at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, FL and was emergency transported last night to Boston Children's.

Matthew was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck not once, not twice, but three times, as well as a true knot in the cord. I guess it's a good thing he had a mind of his own, as well as a very skilled doctor to deliver him.


There was an early battle with BCBS of Alabama to cover the emergency transport to Boston, but the social worker from Sacred Heart did a great job explaining the situation to them and BCBS ultimately did the right thing. Dad (William) and Matthew arrived close to midnight last night.

Mom (Nikki) had not been released from the hospital and could not be cleared to fly so soon after giving birth so, her heart ripped out, she said goodbye to her newborn son and stayed behind until she can make the journey this Sunday.

It's hard for me to believe how perfect little Matthew looks in an early photo shortly after his birth, given all the complications he has already encountered in his young life. Early assessment reveals the initial diagnosis to be accurate: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome with Endocardial FibroElastosis.

That crazy bunch of letters and syllables largely means that the left side of his heart isn't functioning like it should so the doctors have to determine the best way to either recruit that side of his heart and help it function, or else how to "re-plumb" (not the medical term) his heart to work around that deficiency.

We are awaiting the official plan for moving forward and mobilizing the troops now to get Nikki and family to Boston and housed for the time being. I'm amazed at what Matthew has already overcome and, with such an awesome set of parents, know he's destined for great things! I may be a slightly proud aunt. ;)