Kaycee Brooks: 285 days and finally the finishing post in sight

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.

285 days and finally the finishing post in sight

Discharge Day – FINALLY

We couldn’t believe it when we got up on the morning of 15^th June 2010. Kaycee was 9 ½ months old. We hadn’t planned for any of this but we packed the car up and got things sorted. We went upstairs and said our goodbyes to the staff, doctors, parents etc. We were so scared but yet excited to finally be at this stage in her life. A stage at many points of her SCBU stay were threatened by illness and her being so critical. I thought I would have been in floods of tears leaving the unit. After all they had saved my daughter’s life and made this day happen.

I wasn’t at all upset to leave the unit. One of our favourite nurses was upset; she was a fab nurse – missed very much. I was relieved to finally get out of hospital as a family. Loading Kaycee in the car was hilarious, the nursing staff weren’t allowed to help get Kaycee into the car due to policies. So trying to fasten a baby seat in a car was a new thing to us and was bloody complicated. We were that flustered & nervous it took us ages.

Finally we were set to go. We drove off and I remember thinking, stop panicking its going to fine. Michael sat in the back with Kaycee and never once took his eyes off her. Looking back if someone would have filmed us it would be a huge hit on u tube. I drove like a learner, which probably made me more nervous and the possibly more dangerous.

We arrived home, the journey took longer than usual due to me driving extra careful. We took Kaycee in her home for the first time, placed her car seat on the floor and took a deep breathe. I couldn’t believe that was it. Kaycee was no longer in hospital. Now what …

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