Discovering Dad - Latest Comments in Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Sandy (Momisodes) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:27:22 -0000

Oh no....my heart breaks for lil Caitlin and both of you for having to take all of this in. NEC is always treated very seriously in an NICU, even though the results really can have a broad spectrum. I hope they were able to catch the signs of NEC early on. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jnbammer — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:57:38 -0000

Thanks Stacey! That means a lot coming from someone who knows first hand what we're going through right now.

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jnbammer — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:56:56 -0000

Thanks Kim! We appreciate the love!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Stacey Cochran — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:02:49 -0000

"One of the nurses also suggested that I share information about this, especially with dads, who often seem to get marginalized or overwhelmed in the NICU when things go wrong. I asked her why that is, in her opinion, and she said that moms tend to get more emotional while dads seem to withdraw."

Mom's are mother's from conception, dad's don't become father's until the baby is born. As a father, it was tough to sit there and watch my son go through all of what Caitlyn is going through. Being our first son, it was even more difficult to connect with the life that was on the other side of all that plastic and glass. Men are fixers, and, in that situation, we can't FIX anything..we're not doctors(most of us aren't anyway), so you are in a situation where you can't fix and you can't connect, it is no wonder the father's withdraw. It's like asking for directions, some guys can, some guys can't. Some guys can connect and get emotional, others struggle with that...then they struggle with the fact that they are struggle...did I get that right?? Anyway, what you are doing RE the blog is great, Jeremy, keep it up. Good Bless!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Kim — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:58:55 -0000

Jeremy.. I am still praying for you guys.. !! Big hugs to you all!

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jnbammer — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:57:23 -0000

Thanks Scarlet!

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jnbammer — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:57:03 -0000

Thanks Lace! We really appreciate they prayers! We are extremely fortunate that Lori's parents live within 2 hours of our house and come down to help us get through the past 2 weeks, and then for my mom to be able to fly in and help for this week makes a huge difference too. I don't know how people go through times like this alone, but we see it every day when we go to the hospital. We are very thankful for what we have!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jnbammer — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:54:27 -0000

Thank you very much Shinade for sharing your family's story with us, and it sounds like you have been fortunate to witness a miracle. Positive thoughts, prayers, love and modern medicine working together can solve almost any problem, and I do believe that Caitlin will heal and get better! Thanks again for such a wonderful message, and we thank you very much for thinking of us!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jnbammer — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:50:06 -0000

Thanks Jason. We appreciate the prayers!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Scarlet O'Kara — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:11:16 -0000

Your little girl and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers....

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

lace — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:09:16 -0000

It never is a good thing when the doctor asks you to sit. What a great doctor to take time to comfort you and your wife before explaining things.

I will be praying for you and your family.

It's great that you can have family around to help with things. (saw on twitter that mom is visiting)

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Shinade — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:58:10 -0000

Oh Jeremy,
I am so glad that I was sorting through some of my old messages at MBL. I found where you had sent out a message to me while I was away.

Oh my our family knows the extreme fear,anxiety,and utter feeling of hopelessness in a situation like this.

Noah our 14 year old grandson was a Gastroschisis baby. To put it in simple terms his entire upper and lower intestines grew and developed on the outside of his body. He had to be taken prematurely to avoid the very process that your sweet little Caitlin is going through.

So I do have an understanding of what you are speaking about and what it feels like to walk into that NIC and see your sweet precious little baby hooked up to all of those machines. You can see it on television or hear about it a million times, but, unless you have lived it you truly don't have a clue.

Please know that Noah was in much worse condition than what you have described here. The doctors gave him very little chance at all for surviving even the first 24 hours. He was rushed into surgery immediately after birth. He would go on to be paralyzed via medication so as not to move, and, he was on 100% full life support and oxygen for 30 days. In total he underwent 4 surgeries, overcame a collapsed lung and under developed lungs. It truly was the most frightening time in our lives.

He is now 14 years old and completely healthy. I and my family will pray very hard that you receive the same full blessing of healing for your little Caitlin. God bless Jeremy to you and your entire family. My heart aches for all of you. You, your wife, your parents, and most especially your precious little baby girl shall remain a constant thought with me until I hear that she is doing well.

May God lay his mighty hand down upon Caitlin and send her a complete and total healing. This is my prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh Lord in Jesus name I pray you reach down and touch this little new precious bundle of joy and heal her with your most gentle yet powerful touch.
God Bless....sending love your way!!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jnbammer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:34:21 -0000

Thanks James!

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jnbammer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:34:01 -0000

Thanks Martin!

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jnbammer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:33:46 -0000

Thanks Matt! Your comment really hit home with me, and I agree that Caitlin can sense how we feel about things. I've always believed that attitude is contagious and there is power in positive thinking. We always try to be positive when in her presence at the hospital, and I do believe she can sense it too. Thanks again man!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

James — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:34:14 -0000

Again, Jeremy, our thoughts, prayers and well wishes, are with baby Caitlin and your whole family. Hang in there, man!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Xbox4NappyRash — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:36:53 -0000

Oh my.

Very hard to read that, my best wishes for the little one.

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

matt — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:24:08 -0000

You know, the most difficult thing about this process, at least for me, was trying to react 'correctly' to every thing the doctors told us. Now, you've got your hands full, no question. And I KNOW you are worried as Hell about what could happen. But you guys seem like an incredibly strong family - and I am sure Caitlin has not come into this world lacking of those traits. At the end of the day, she will prevail. I mean that. A doctor's job is to diagnose and treat. A child job is to thrive. You and your wife's love for her, along with her will to be healthy, will end up winning in the end. Little miracles happen...every day. I am not a religious person, but I believe in the human spirit – It is a powerful force. Many times I have heard the phrase "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst". I say thats BS...its playing it safe. Hope for the best, and prepare for the best, and Caitlin will sense it...she will embody it. You guys will be fine, an she will be perfect. Just hang in there and do what you can. Oh yeah. And tell Lori she did a great job. She's made you guys a beautiful little girl.

PS -

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jason — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:56:53 -0000

We're very sad to hear the news of Caitlyn's condition. Your family is in our prayers

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jnbammer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:27:12 -0000

I know - all of these posts have been hard to write yet they're also somewhat therapeutic. One of the nurses also suggested that I share information about this, especially with dads, who often seem to get marginalized or overwhelmed in the NICU when things go wrong. I asked her why that is, in her opinion, and she said that moms tend to get more emotional while dads seem to withdraw. Anyway, this whole experience has been tough man, but it definitely helps having great friends like you praying for us!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jnbammer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:24:30 -0000

Thanks Katja!

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jnbammer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:24:13 -0000

Thanks Tom! I'm sure you're wife sees all kinds of things as a nurse - not sure if I could do it with all of the highs and lows.

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

jnbammer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:23:14 -0000

Thanks Kel! You're awesome!

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

simplyChuck — Sat, 31 May 2008 21:54:42 -0000

Man, that was not easy to read Jeremy. We continue to pray for all of you.

Re: Premature Panic - Hitting Rock Bottom

Katja @skimbaco — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:42:48 -0000

Keeping your family and Caitlin in prayers. Hoping for the best!