Vada Joy Reynolds was born on 4/24/12 along with her twin Holden Patterson Reynolds. While Holden had no medical issues, as time passed doctors began to discover a lot going on with Vada. Her initial diagnosis was Hydrocephalus, which we already knew about, and she had a VP shunt placed to direct fluid away from her brain to her abdomen since her ventricles in her brain have an obstruction. Here a
re some of the other things that she has been diagnosed with. I have to add that these are just some of the bigger things, but there have been a lot of small things as well. Chronic Lung Disease and Pulmonary Hypoplasia(tiny vessels in her lungs)
Pulmonary Hypertension
Cleft palate
Seizures and convulsions
Two congenital heart defects 1. PDA(Patent Ductus Arteriosis) A vessel in her heart that did not close up like it was supposed to at birth. ASD(Arterial Septal Defect) A hole in heart that won't be corrected until she is older. Micrognanthia(Small chin and jaw)
Oral aversion making her completely tube fed
Due to her chronic lung disease, Vada's prognosis was very grim for a long time. She was on the ventilator for 3 months with a 3 week period of also having nitric oxide to give her more support. If you didn't already know, this is REALLY bad. We almost lost her several times, including on the operating table for her heart surgery. That was the most awful day since her birth because I had to hear something no parent wants to hear---"If you do not let me cut her chest open, she will die." After about 3 months in the NICU, God slowly began to heal her body and she began to improve immense ly. If I am being completely honest, those NICU days were the darkest days for our family. After 185 very long days, we finally took Vada home on November 1st, 2012. Yes, we came home on oxygen and with a feeding pump, but the important thing about this is that WE CAME HOME! Since coming home we have had some bumps along the way, but overall she
has done very well at home. Due to RSV and pneumonia, we spent almost the entire month of January in the hospital. Over this past year, we have been so blessed with your prayers, calls, texts, gifts, kind words, and the list just keeps on going. Our family is so grateful to have so many people lifting her up in their prayers. Our hope with this page is that it reaches many and that her story touches lives. Her strength and will to live still amazes me everyday. We want people to know that God still answers prayers and that He is good and faithful. Nothing and I mean NOTHING is impossible with God. Only God has the final say! I would also like to add that Vada's twin Holden is doing fabulous and shows no signs of being a preemie. Vada also has a sister, Emmy, and a half-brother, Garrett, who both love her very much.
♥Lana♥
