Stories of Lost Children
Jeremy Ryan
by Noelle Bronaugh, Chester Springs, PA, U.S.A.
My mommy wrote this about me: Jeremy Ryan
10/22/10-12/28/10
(I will always be your Mommy) Jeremy Ryan Bronaugh was born 10/22/10 at Paoli Hospital and died 12/28/10 at the A.I. Dupont Children's Hospital/ Nemours Clinic in Wilmington, DE. He spent his whole life in the hospital. He died of Respiratory Failure due to a development of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn. He was born diagnosed with VACTERL/VATERS Association but was expected to live a normal healthy life (as he only had less severe anomalies: a missing left kidney, 2 hemi-vertebrae and a missing pulmonary artery to his right lung). He was apparently getting better as time went on, however his body fooled us all, as his spirit wanted to be with us and fight. He spiraled downward out of nowhere during a transition onto (less supportive) therapies where he showed progress over a period of a week. He ended up on full life support after a cardiac cath. was performed that diagnosed the severity of the Pulmonary Hypertension and showed an inability to make any connections for his missing pulmonary artery into his right lung. Over a period of days I saw my energetic, completely healthy looking little fighter turn into a very sick little boy...he was battered and bruised from head to toe and swelled up like a balloon. He had to be put on Pavulon (a paralytic) to prevent him from moving so he wouldn't use his oxygen reserves and Fentanyl for any pain he may have had for all of the poking and prodding they had to do to keep him alive). He also had to be put on Nitric Oxide to keep his vessels from closing along with Cedenafil. He was given Dopamine for his low blood pressure. When he developed pneumothorax (air that leaks into the chest wall outside of the lung) they had to put a chest tube in his side. After all of this if it was up to him he would be with us right now, and that is the hardest part, because his little body wouldn't let him...and now he is with God. I miss him terribly...after having to have his tube pulled early Tuesday morning because taking off his Dopamine (for low blood pressure) wouldn't stop that little heart from ticking away as strong as ever (lowest was 165 bpm after 2 hours)...even after we had him moved to a less supportive ventilator (from the HFOV vent) he was profusing about 75-65% oxygen instead of 92-100%, and it hurt to see his little fingers turn blue knowing he wasn't getting the oxygen he needed, even though the vent settings were at 100% oxygen and 85 breaths per minute. After his tube came out all of the machines were turned off a little after 5 am and, in a completely deafening silent room, we all held his hand and kissed his head, put our hands on his chest...saw 3 final shallow contractions of his chest and the doctor pronounced him dead at 5:50am. Please see his beautiful face in these videos I have on how I want him to be remembered...Mommy and Daddy miss you baby! (please copy and paste this link in your browser) http://www.facebook.com/editprofile.php?sk=basic&success=1#!/video/?id=1198173393
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