While pregnant with my daughter, Hollie, I found out she
had Spina Bifida. I started reading everything I could
about it. I came to first Step and borrowed a book about Spina Bifida. I also inquired of services at First Step. I
was told when she was ready to come home to call again and
we would set up services for her. Hollie was born
prematurely at 29 weeks. She was med-flighted to Little
Rock immediately. My doctor gave me a day to live due to
the toll severe toxemia had taken on my body. Two days
after she was born I was released from the hospital and
went straight to Little Rock. At four days old Hollie was
given a week to live. The doctors told us IF she survived
she would be a complete vegetable. So I made the
devastating decision to let her go. She was only on nose
canal tubes but even these were removed and the doctors
began letting us hold her.
I can still remember sitting up with her until 3 and 4
in the morning, holding her, thinking this would be the
last time I would hold her. Not true. Hollie is a fighter
and had a lot of people who were standing behind her and
praying for her. Hollie went through many hard times. She
almost died a couple of different times. Through all these
times, Hollie had love. She was held and talked to often.
Hollie came home when she was 4 months and 10 days old.
Before coming home I went to First Step and filled out all
the paperwork. It was set up for Speech to meet with her
as I had a swallow study scheduled for her (she was on a
silent aspirator so she had been given a G-tube to be able
to go home) and I wanted to be sure I did everything
possible to help her pass the study. She didn’t pass, but
I didn’t lose hope. When first tested by First Step,
Hollie could not pass anything. Now Hollie is leaping and
bounding. She just started crawling. She can drink as long
as it is mixed to nectar consistency. She has started
eating table food and cheerio/fruit loops. She is such a
joy.
First Step has helped us so much. They have shared my joys
and also my frustrations. Some from there have come to see
us when Hollie was put in the hospital. They always let us
know that they care and take time to listen to us. I don’t
know what I would have done this last year and a half
without the training First Step has given me. They have
offered me encouragement and extended their friendship.
From the therapist to the secretaries to the director—all
stop to say hello and to ask how we are and to get to know
US, not as case files, but as people. We all have children
with special needs and one of the things we need the most
is to know we are not alone. There are others that care.
Other families are also facing difficult situations.
Knowing there is a program such as First Step has been
wonderful. Hollie has come such a long way. Our whole
family has come a long way. We have learned a lot and have
drawn together more than ever.
Carrie Stephens |
