Kelsie had a pretty normal pregnancy for the first 30 weeks. She never was one to complain about anything besides maybe her swelling in her feet. During our doctor’s visits from about 30 weeks on Kelsie’s blood pressure would skyrocket and tests were performed weekly to make sure she didn’t have other signs of pre-eclampsia, a sometimes silent disease involving high blood pressure and damage to major organs as a result of toxic chemicals spilling into the blood from the placenta. At this time, doctors are unsure of why this disease occurs. Several times she would have to submit 24 hour urine samples to check for excessive protein in the urine, a tell-tale sign of pre-eclampsia. Each time samples were taken, they came back relatively normal. Her protein levels were low in the urine and her bloodwork showed no liver or kidney abnormalities. We attributed the high blood pressure to anxiety as her pressures were typically normal when taken at home, but the doctors wanted to repeatedly check for other signs as well. We were getting a bit frustrated with her having to submit samples all of the time, but it turns out it was a blessing in disguise.
On October 19, 2013, I went into work a typical Saturday morning shift at Greenbrier Animal Hospital. I remember it being a relatively laid back day, which is extremely odd for a Saturday. Plans for the day after work included getting the sun roof fixed at Bryan’s on the Pontiac Grand-Am and potentially getting a few things ready to go deer hunting the next morning. When I got home, I was greeted to a big pot of vegetable soup made by the Bratton family. We were so blessed to have so many family members and friends helping us out as I had to work and Kelsie was supposed to rest. We ate and then curled up together on the couch to relax a bit on a Saturday afternoon with our dog, Roxy. And then the phone call…
I remember Kelsie picking up her phone and it being a number that she did not recognize. She went outside to answer it. It was from a doctor we had never seen before, Dr. Contreras. Earlier that morning, Tamyra had submitted a 24 hour urine sample from Kelsie to look at her protein since the level went from “trace” to 2+ the previous day. According to Dr. Contreras, Kelsie’s protein level went from around 100 (doctors like to see it less than 300) to over 1,000! We were dumbfounded (especially since her blood work the day before came back completely normal) when she told us to pack our things and get to the hospital as soon as possible and that they would have to deliver Kelsie as early as tomorrow (Sunday, Oct. 20) . That’s when the true blur began. Kelsie made me call the doctor back to make sure she heard her right. We both walked around the house trying to pack, but we just couldn’t. It’s a feeling we will never be able to describe. I really, well WE really couldn’t believe what was happening. We both thought we had at least another 6 weeks before delivery. On the way to the hospital, Kelsie kept complaining of severe chest pain. I just knew it was anxiety and stress related, but how could I know for sure? My grandpa driving tactics were thrown out the window, and we made it to the hospital in record time. Kelsie was immediately admitted, IVs placed, blood samples taken, ultrasounds performed, etc. She was poked so many times. By the time we made it back to our room for the night, most of our immediate family was there. Mom had to find a sitter (I believe it was Brenda Will) for Noah at the last minute.
Kelsie was given a large dose of betamethasone which is a steroid that helps the baby’s lung tissue develop in preparation for delivery. She claims it was the most painful injection you could imagine. I remember the nurse telling her it’s going to hurt and that the shot was “nasty.” She was also started on magnesium sulfate to prevent seizure activity. This IV medication was given as a bolus (large volume at one time) then maintained through the duration of delivery and up to 48 hours after delivery. The side effects were hard for me to watch. Never have I seen my wife in such misery and discomfort. Nausea, headaches, sweating, chills, fever, crying. She looked terrible, and I felt so bad for her. The worst part was that I couldn’t do anything to comfort her. There was a never-ending barrage of people in and out all evening including laboratory technicians taking frequent blood samples. Finally at around 10 pm, there seemed to be a window to possibly catch some rest, and I encouraged Kelsie to try her best to sleep as tomorrow was going to be a big day…the day we were going to meet our baby! Another steroid injection was scheduled for 4 pm, and the doctors would perform a C-section soon after. I had just turned over to try to get comfortable on the couch in the hospital room when the door opened again.
A nurse calmly said, “Kelsie, we are delivering you right now.” Wha wha wha what?!? Apparently, Kelsie’s liver values had gone through the roof in a matter of hours. Her initial bloodwork on arrival was elevated, but not severely. However, only about 6 hours later, her levels had more than tripled. Doctors at the hospital could not believe how high they were and most of them claimed they were the highest they had ever seen! Her liver enzyme ALT is supposed to be around 30-40, but her values had soared to 1600! She was definitely the topic of rounds between the doctors the next morning. The frequent testing luckily caught the increased protein in the urine, the ONLY abnormality that brought her to the hospital that day. Who knows what would have happened if our “typical” Saturday stayed “typical”. I very well could have lost my wife and son that weekend.
Before I knew it, the nurses were stripping several items off of Kelsie, and I was just simply trying to stay calm. Kelsie seemed to be staying somewhat calm, but it was probably due to the effects of the nasty medicine she was receiving. I remember stripping down and putting on the provided white jump suit, mask, hair net, and booties. If I remember right, the nurse had me put a hair net on Kelsie as well. I don’t know why, but I glanced at the clock when they wheeled her from the room and it read 10:37 pm. I told Kelsie that I didn’t know for sure if it would be an October 19th or 20th baby due to the time. One nurse looked at me and reassured me that it would definitely be today. They proceeded to wheel her to the operating room as quickly and calmly as possible.
I only became nervous when I had to wait outside the operating room for the doctor’s to prepare Kelsie for surgery. I waited for approximately 15-20 minutes and made a few phone calls to my mother and mother-in-law to help calm my nerves. Our family went home for the evening to only turn around to come right back to the hospital. A nurse called me back around 11:00 pm, and I sat just to the left of Kelsie’s head and talked to her constantly. I guess the surgeons thought it was cute that I was talking to her so much (although she refused to look at me for some reason.) I remember looking at her blood pressure as it was almost half of what it was before she was called down for surgery. I asked Dr. Riddle, the cool, calm, collected anesthesiologist, about how low her pressures were. He calmly stated, “Yeah, it happens sometimes with the spinal. She’ll be okay.” Before I knew it, the surgeons were telling “Dad” that he needed to stand up to see something. When I peered over the curtain, all I could see was my wife’s belly sliced open seemingly from hip to hip and a small, round head of hair slowly coming out of the incision. Although it probably only took 5-10 seconds to pull the baby free, it seemed like eternity since we were unaware of the child’s sex. We were both convinced we would be having a little girl, but to my astonishment, it was quickly apparent that we were both very wrong. I couldn’t believe it was a little boy! His size was much bigger than I had anticipated, and I will never forget his distinct blue color and head full of hair. He began to cry immediately after he was born which was a surprise to Kelsie. It was reassuring to her that he was doing okay even though she couldn’t see him through the blue curtains. I sat back down, held Kelsie’s head with both hands and whispered quietly, but with obvious excitement, that it was a boy. We both had a memorable moment together full of happiness and tears (yes dads are allowed to cry too).
I got to go see Michael for a few seconds after birth and video tape him on my phone. Kelsie headed for the recovery room. After she was in the recovery room for a good hour we called our family in to let Kelsie tell them the big surprise! I got to tell my dad that Michael was named after him. The Kemmerling name will live on. It was yet another very special time for us and the video of it all is something we will cherish forever. Mommy didn’t get to see him until after recovery (probably a good two hours after birth). We pushed her hospital bed through the nicu doors (very challenging by the way). She got to see him for a few minutes along with Nana Wolfe, Nana K, Papa Wolfe, and Papa Kemmerling. From there we started Kelsie’s recovery and our journey through the nicu.
God is so good. We truly appreciate everyone’s concerns and prayers. Kelsie and Michael are alive today because of them. We cannot wait to get our little miracle home and love him every single day for the rest of our lives.
A special thanks to our family and friends especially the Bratton’s for all of their love and support throughout Kelsie’s pregnancy. You guys are awesome and we don’t know what we would do without you.
XOXO
The Kemmerlings
Braden, Kelsie, Michael, and Roxy
“Sometimes’, said Pooh, ‘the smallest things take up the most room in your heart’.
The Kemmerlings 