I would like to introduce you to Bennett Stephen Hansen and Brooklyn Grace Hansen. Bennett was born 3 minutes ahead of his sister on August 13th at 6:50 AM. Brooklyn weighed 3-pounds 5-ounces, and Bennett weighed 3 pounds even.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers, your support, as well as your kind words and thoughts.
We have been pretty busy and a little overwhelmed over the past 48 hours with everything that has been going on with the babies and Ali’s recovery. We appreciate your patience, knowing that people are curious, praying, and anxious and looking for updates.
I’m unsure of your individual knowledge regarding the pregnancy so I’ll start from the beginning. If you know the history and their story just skip down below to “They’re here!”
Or, if you just want to see the pictures, you can skip the “novel” below; and just view the pictures above. I'll have more pictures posted soon.
At approximately 8-weeks into the pregnancy we found out there was a baby A, and a baby B. Surprise!!!!
Bennett is Baby A and Brooklyn is Baby B.
Approximately 12-weeks into the pregnancy there was a rupture (tear) of Baby A’s sack and a loss of the amniotic fluid surrounding him. There was no way to repair the rupture and the doctors began to prepare us for what was described as the likely outcome; that baby A could not and would not survive, and/or would not develop properly without amniotic fluid taking into consideration the term of the pregnancy at that time. We were informed that a rupture at 26 weeks or 30 weeks, etc… would allow for normal development, with complications at the end, like early delivery. Bennett’s sack ruptured at 12-weeks. Doctors described his chances for making it 24-weeks as highly unlikely. We were also informed that Baby A could cause a healthy baby (Baby B) to be delivered too early for her survival.
We were provided some realistic options to ensure Baby B’s survival which included the election of having Baby A “pass” through a procedure to ensure Baby B’s survival. It was a monumental emotional dilemma; let the challenged baby that is struggling pass in order to allow the baby w/ normal conditions have the best possible chance to develop and survive.
Brooklyn was in a separate sack, showed good signs, and no disruptions. We emotionally battled over making the right decision at that time. We were emotionally torn between taking good care of Baby B, while trying to provide all we could for Baby A.
On top of the babies’ health and condition we also had to consider Ali’s health. Taking the babies to full term meant that she would be exposed to situations that were life threatening.
There were no easy answers. There were no easy decisions. We likened it to and felt a new level of compassion for anyone that has had to make decisions for a loved one on life support, regardless of your faith or beliefs; what is the right decision? The situation was once described as imagining a loved one on life support, whose outcome you must decide; and in addition there's another loved one lying next to them who will likely have their outcome determined by the decision(s) you make for the first……and there’s no getting around making a decision.
We spent time crying, praying, praying with friends, praying for God’s mercy, grace, wisdom and at the same time praying and expressing gratefulness that both Baby A and Baby B were showing signs at 13-weeks of being healthy and growing.
This is the first but will not be the last time you see me post or hear me say that “Bennett was/is not supposed to be here, he is truly a miracle”.
The main reason I am spending time providing you with a history of where we started, then leading to where we are now is to be sure we send the message that God is great, he is powerful, prayer is powerful, and both Bennett and Brooklyn are miracles.
We were provided (as was necessary and prudent) with information on the possible scenarios and outcomes. Even though Bennett was in a situation that was difficult to watch we were also provided with incredible signs of progress with ultrasounds showing both Baby A and Baby B growing, maturing, and developing. Without fluid around him Bennett was squashed. The doctors and technicians were unable to determine the gender at the bi-weekly ultrasounds (except for the one ultrasound at 23 weeks) because his legs were smashed together so tight. Without the fluid to suspend him and provide room to move, his entire body was under a lot of pressure and he was literally squashed.
Even though blood and nutrients were being delivered through the umbilical cord to Bennett he did not have fluid around him or supporting him. One of the most concerning factors surrounding that situation is that it does not allow the lungs to develop in a normal fashion. Fluid in the sack is necessary for lung development. There was a high probability that although his body increased in size, that his lungs would not develop and he would not survive, even if he made it to full term (38-40 weeks). On top of the concerns over his lung development there were concerns of infection/disease due to the tear/rupture in his sack, physical abnormalities since his physical development was hampered from the pressure of being squished/crushed w/out fluid around him, lack of brain development, high likelihood of multiple scoliosis, and a long list of other challenges that he would likely encounter if brought to full term.
Uncertainty was the word we used to describe Bennett’s condition and the best word to describe his likely outcome.
We felt in our hearts that every time we saw a picture of him, noticed his growth, or felt him move that he was a determined fighter and he was going to survive. He showed incredible resilience and an incredible willingness to continue fighting. As he grew his surroundings would get smaller. He was cramped and was feeling pressure all around, he kept on fighting!
At 28-weeks we determined the best place for Mom and the babies was at the hospital, full time. In case there was a sudden loss in heart rate for the babies, or a fever for Ali due to infection, etc… it was best if Ali were at the hospital 24/7. Needless to say; not exactly a vacation? Mandy and Sadie missed their Mom, and I did my best to keep the Hansen household moving in the right direction. Thank you to everyone for all of your support! We could not have made this work without you!
They’re Here!
At 30-weeks and 3-days, without cause, I suddenly woke from a deep sleep at 4:30 AM and found myself wide awake. At 5:30 AM the phone rang and it was Ali; it was time. Ali had a high fever and an infection, the babies needed to be delivered immediately. Grammy D. rushed over to watch Mandy and Sadie who were still sleeping, and I rushed to the hospital to be w/ Ali.
We didn’t know exactly what to expect but, our hearts and our minds were filled with hope, faith, and gratefulness that the babies had surpassed the 24-week viability threshold (miracle), and then the 28-week development threshold (miracle), and everyday past 28-weeks was a new milestone, worthy of praise and recognition.
I would like to be able to say that I held true through every moment but, I can not. As Bennett was delivered I didn’t know if he would survive 30-seconds and then leave us, or if he would be challenged physically, or if he would be born with an infection that he could not fight. I felt in my heart that Brooklyn would be fine. I can not fully explain how or why but, I did.
I struggled and was torn not knowing how Bennett would do once removed from Ali and his umbilical cord lifeline that supplied everything he needed.
Now was the moment of truth?
I struggled emotionally as the teams of doctors and nurses worked on Bennett and Brooklyn. The amount of medical staff was somewhat overwhelming; 5 people w/ Brooklyn and 5 with Bennett, and 5 or 6 with Ali. I watched as Bennett was delivered first, I struggled to keep filled with faith as I wondered if he would breathe, if he would survive. Then Brooklyn was delivered, as they transferred her to the next room I saw her wiggle and heard her cry, she was OK for now. I praised and thanked God. I bounced back and forth from both babies in a room separate from the surgery/delivery room, while trying to keep an eye on and deliver updates to Ali (she was still on the surgical table in the delivery room next door). I kept saying to Ali that they are doing fine but, really I did not know, Bennett looked like he was in a lot of trouble. Brooklyn looked like she too was having trouble but I heard her cry, watched her breathe and then turned my attention to Bennett. The team was beginning to insert the oxygen tube down his throat. Then I saw the same for Brooklyn. Then reality kicked in; they were both going on intensive full life support. I wondered if everything the doctors were doing was just all for show, just going through the motions to try everything to save them; or if they were setting up their support and transport to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I wandered to/from the extremes of full faith and complete despair. Despair was vying for my attention but, I managed to hold firm and kept faithful, pushing the despair and morbid thoughts out of my mind.
Thank you Laura for all of your support and comfort as I watched the teams work on the babies. You made a tremendous difference in my mental state of mind and ability to convey messages to Ali. You reminded me in whom to place faith and to whom the babies belonged. He is mighty.
The doctor started a ventilation bag on Bennett, and that is right about when I completely lost it. He wasn’t breathing. I went back to Ali to be sure she was OK, and to let her know I was staying w/ the babies as they transported them to the NICU. I turned around and Bennett was leaving the room. I stayed w/ Brooklyn and followed close behind.
Once the babies were in the NICU things started to change. Brooklyn started to settle in. My attention turned toward Bennett. The doctors and staff were attending to him as I tried to figure out what was going on. They had him on life support. The multiple tubes, the ventilator, the machines…and a tiny, tiny baby. All of it was overwhelming.
I stopped and prayed for him, for his doctors, for his caregivers, and I stopped to give praise and thanks for Bennett.
I stood in the corner of the room, the only space left in the room, watching everything that was going on, afraid, scared, and at the same time full of gratitude.
Then Bennett started to show signs of settling in, accepting the medication, accepting the ventilation w/out struggling, his heart rate started to lower………Then the worst came; he slid too far. He lost blood pressure, his saturation levels dropped too much, his heart rate accelerated then suddenly dropped. The room started to swarm with people, buzzers and alarms started to sound, even the most professional started to look overly concerned. The despair started to sneak in again. I thought we were going to loose him for sure. I started thinking that he was here for such a short time and I barely got to know him. I then began to pray again, not just for Bennett and his survival, I started to pray and give thanks for this awesome little man who made it so far, I felt God’s presence in the room, over his body, I felt God taking over with comfort and grace and strength and power, where I had none. I began to think of all the people praying for Bennett and Brooklyn. I watched as the doctors turned his oxygen up to 100%. His blood was not saturating, oxygen was being provided at the highest level but, his body wasn’t accepting it. It appeared to me as though they were running out of things they could do.
Christia, the specialist providing his Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide pulled me in and had me hold his hand as she and the rest of the team worked on him. I thought she was allowing this because we were loosing him. I bounced back and forth from “what a strong little man; God is great” to being full of fear and despair.
Then I remembered and realized something I have always known; where there is faith, despair can not exist. Again I felt the room fill up with God’s presence. I was once again filled with gratitude and faith!
Bennett started to pull through!
For the next 24 hours it was a series of up, then down, up too high, then down too low. The doctors and nurses constantly moved medications up, then down, adding oxygen, then weaning him down.
The next day I found out that twice we almost lost him. God is great, he is mighty, he is powerful and your prayers made a (the) difference in his life and his survival.
As for Brooklyn; she started off w/ low levels of oxygen and a C-Pap mask on to help add some pressure and help her breathe. The C-Pap mask is smaller in size but, very similar to the type of mask that an adult w/ sleep apnea would wear, it adds pressure to help things expand. She has since transferred to an oxygen tube only, w/ the oxygen level set at 21% which is what you and I would breathe if we were walking around outside in Phoenix. Every couple hours she forgets to breathe, the nurses stimulate her, and then she remembers. It’s one of the advances she needs to achieve as she develops. She is on antibiotics to fight off the possibility of an infection. She has an IV for some nutrients and a feeding tube in her mouth, down her throat, to her stomach. She is feeding well. The more breast milk she is able to consume the lower the level of nutrients and antibiotics she’ll receive intravenously. It looks like they will be able to remove the IV’s and feeding tube sooner rather than later. She was registering across the board with her results pretty consistent w/ what the doctors expect from a baby born at 30-weeks. Overall she is doing very well, progressing nicely. It will take time for her body to develop; she needs to reach certain benchmark levels for every aspect of her development before they remove the assistance completely, then more development before she can come home. Likely 8-weeks from now, and likely before her brother.
Bennett’s current condition is still sensitive. He is still pretty sick. Bennett has a breathing tube down his throat and into his lungs. He is on a type of ventilator for life support (an oscillator), which has Nitric being added to help open up some areas for him and help stabilize him. His oxygen levels vary from 25% up to 40% (a significant improvement from 100%!!). He has antibiotics to help fight off the possibility of infection, same as his sister. He has some swelling throughout his body that he needs to decrease. It is caused from “weeping/seepage” from his cells not having a strong enough barrier to hold the fluids. His body will figure it out, then a change will occur. His heart has some hypertension, including a valve between the blue blood (headed to the lungs for oxygenation) and the pink blood leaving the right side of the heart full of oxygen. The valve normally is open at this age but, since he is now on his own no longer w/ Mom, the valve needs to close. We are praying he won’t need surgery to close the bypass valve. He has some issues with his eyes. The issues can all easily cure in due time. Since arriving in the NICU the machines have been breathing for him. Today he started some respiratory movement and work of his own! Despite his challenges he is progressing, and appears to have stopped moving backwards.
Bennett has several issues right now; heart, lung, blood pressure, infection, saturation/oxygenation, and kidneys that are affecting his health. He has some physical challenges from growing and developing in tight quarters w/out fluid since week-12.
Be assured he is a fighter and he is strong willed!
We chose Brooklyn because we liked the name, and Grace due to what we felt placed upon us and our family.
Bennett translated means “little blessed one”, and Stephen is my father’s name; Bennett and Stephen two of the strongest men I know.
We will keep posting with new information as we have it.
Thank you again to everyone for thoughts, prayers and your support.
If you read this be assured and know for certain that without you, personally, none of this is possible;
For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.
Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
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