Kaitlyn Scott
During the summer of 2006, Becky and Randy Scott were eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child, Kaitlyn. Little did they know the struggle that lay ahead for both Becky and little Kaitlyn to survive.
Shortly into her third trimester, Becky began to feel what she thought was heartburn. When she went to the hospital and learned that what she thought was heartburn was really a severe form of preeclampsia – known as HELLP Syndrome. Her diaphragm was pushing on her liver, causing the heartburn-like feeling.
Doctors administered an IV of medication to assist in maturing Kaitlyn’s lungs to hopefully delay a caesarean section (c-section). Shortly after the IV was administered, however, Becky’s blood pressure skyrocketed and doctors had to perform an emergency c-section to try to save Becky’s life. Afterward, Becky’s blood pressure was very low for several days and she had a large hematoma on her liver. In an attempt to raise her blood pressure, she was given two units of blood. About her experience, Becky says, “It really makes you realize what in life is truly important.”
Kaitlyn was born three months early and weighed only 1lb, 6 oz. She was also born with patent ductus arteriosis (PDA), a congenital heart defect, and needed surgery to repair the problem. During this critical time, Kaitlyn was on oxygen because her lungs were not fully developed. Every two weeks, an ophthalmologist checked on Kaitlyn to monitor the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) of her eyes. Too much oxygen has a tendency to create ROP, where abnormal blood vessels grow and spread throughout the retina. These blood vessels are fragile and can leak, scarring the retina and can lead to blindness if not corrected. About 1,100-1,500 infants annually develop ROP that is severe enough to require medical treatment.
When Kaitlyn reached stage three of ROP, where she was experiencing severely abnormal blood vessel growth, her ophthalmologist recommended surgery because the disease was progressing too rapidly. Kaitlyn was just two months old when she had her second surgery. Again, she beat the odds.
Finally in January 2007, 126 days after the emergency c-section, Kaitlyn was allowed to go home, weighing 5 lbs 8 oz. During her four month stay in the hospital, she received 13 blood transfusions from four different donors because her tiny body couldn’t replace the red cells it needed quickly enough. Becky knows the value of blood donation first hand and now participates in the drives held at her office. “If it wasn’t for blood donors, Kaitlyn wouldn’t be here. Donating blood is so easy, it takes about an hour of your time and you can help save someone’s life.”