Kaycee Brooks: Another date inscribed in my mind

As most of you know Kaycee Brooks is 18 months old (corrected age 14 months, meaning if she was born on her due date this would be her age now) She is a surviving twin and was born at 25 weeks and 2 days. Her sister, Corrie (said like the boy’s name Corey, not after my favourite soap … ha) sadly passed away in the womb at 25 weeks.

Kaycee has spent most of her life in hospital. In total she has spent a mere 9 weeks at home on and off, the longest stretch being 10 days without a Hospital admission. She has given the hardest strongest fight of survival and still to this day (01.03.2012) Kaycee is still fighting and literally living life on the edge.

I thought it would be nice to let people know her full background and share her life experience properly, just for future reference for Kaycee to read back on when she’s a big girl and also to help or guide, anyone who will either experience any part of this situation.

The reason for me publishing a blog, with a donation button on is not out of pure cheek, not us being a charity case but simply to raise a bit of money for Kaycee, her future, her care (if we need to seek quicker care privately) travelling and living expenses whilst we hold vigil besides Kaycee. I do not want anyone to think we are begging, I just feel with all the support we have people will understand, and not take pity but want to support us. We are hospitalised and we aren’t living in “real life” and people are always always asking what can we do to help. So I spoke to a support worker and she suggested this and to be honest it has took me a good number of months to actually do this, to sit down and re-live Kaycee’s life and to relive my experience with my other daughter Corrie.

It does bring back a lot of painful but happy memories but also angers me at the same time because I do see it from other peoples points of view, when I sit down and think of our situation and see that we have and are in such a bad position in life. But we have been dealt with these cards in life and we have to deal with that.

I am only as strong as I am because I have the most amazing daughter anyone could ever dream of having and I think this applies to most premmie parents or long term sick children. You truly are blessed to have a special child. I totally believe that we are blessed and I do not wish to change anything in my life. I just wish better health for Kaycee and may be one day be that in 1 month’s time or 10 years we will live a normal happy life as a family at home. But in the meantime I will make sure every 24 hours of my daughter’s life has a special memory. Not only does she inspire her army of fans but she is a true inspiration to us as parents. And the most warmest thought is I have two of these girls, and although Corrie isn’t here, I know she is exactly the same as Kaycee and wherever she is she is being a cheeky girl and making everyone love her just as much as Kaycee is doing down here with us.

I am truly truly blessed to be her mummy.

Another date inscribed in my mind

Then one night the alarm on Kaycee’s monitor went off and her saturations were low again. Within minutes of this happening we had made the decision to call the ambulance and get her looked at. The ambulance again came within minutes and Kaycee was transferred back to Oldham. As we arrived Kaycee needed more oxygen and a mask was placed on her face again.

Again she was diagnosed with bronchiolitis. We thought another week and she would be fine.

Her consultant who had been with her since Scbu days came up to see her and prescribed her a nebuliser to help move some of the rubbish on her lungs. Kaycee had this but then had a really bad reaction to it. She went floppy and her saturations went low.

At the time Michael was with her as I had nipped home by strict orders of Kaycee’s consultant to get a long relaxing bath and try and relax a bit. That never happened as I got to the corner of our street and pulled up because my phone was ringing. I couldn’t believe that I was in this situation again. I needed to be at the hospital within minutes and I found myself back to the situation where I didn’t feel I was making much progress on the journey just making it more dangerous for me and other drivers.

When I arrived at the hospital Kaycee had been sorted out but was in loads of oxygen. Then the dreaded news none of us wanted to hear.

Kaycee’s consultant had been in talks with the doctors down at Central Manchester Children’s Hospital. They have decided that Kaycee needs additional care to what she was getting. She was to be transferred down to that hospital. Initially we thought this will be good because she will be looked at properly and the added bonus we were getting out of Oldham. Then the news we didn’t want to hear … BUT (and a massive BUT) she will have to be vented to get her down there safely.

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