Kate’s life five years ago was the bride who believed that after marriage life would be perfect. She wanted to be the "perfect" wife...."perfect" daughter "perfect" friend....sister....and eventually the perfect Mother. Being a Mom was always high on her list. It was the one thing she felt born to be or do!! Kate’s life took a drastic turn when she was induced at 33 weeks and gave birth to her precious baby boy Kyle. Kyle was a preemie weighing 4 lbs. She couldn’t even touch him let alone hold him for weeks. She had no idea Kyle would be in the NICU for Nine months and another eight week PICU stay. It has been years of endless doctor’s appointments, hospital stays, ambulance rides and still to this very day Kyle struggles for every breath.
These are Kate’s own words looking back on the past couple of years.
This is one of Kate’s most recent entries on her March of Dimes share site and why we had to nominate her:
Sunday afternoon we had to transport Kyle by ambulance to Maine Medical Center. He was disorientated and having seizures. His stats had bottomed out and we couldn't bring him around. In the ambulance they tested his blood glucose which was nineteen at the time, (normal would be 80-100) A normal child at that point should have been comatose or worse. Once arriving in the ER we were brought right into the trauma room where a team of people helped stabilize him and started an IV. It was crucial for them to get blood work before they started giving him sugar. After the first sugar boost he started to bounce back. Sadly twenty five minutes later his sugars started to drop again. At this point we were admitted to the ICU. Please, please remember Kyle tonight. He truly is our life...his smile, his laugh, his being....it holds us all together. He's almost four...it blows my mind that he's almost four. I'm back to the physically aching pain again. I can't help him or fix him...
All thru this heart wrenching journey Kate has still found time for her two other kids, Alex and Jack, and amazingly enough she even volunteers with what very little time she has left. She is currently Co-Chairing our March of Dimes Chefs auction and does numerous activities/walks to raise $$ for premature Babies. She tells moms every day that expressing your feelings doesn't make you weak. It makes you human. It makes you a Mom.
After all the pain and heart ache she has endured she still has an amazing outlook on life. Here in her OWN words is what Kate believes. This is TRULY ONE BRAVE CHICK/MOM.
I have learned not to second guess choices I have made in the past. I can't change them or the outcomes...I can only learn from them and grow from them.
I have learned that life is so short...you really need to live every day for what it is.
I have learned true heartache...I used to think heartache was that caused by an old boyfriend, or an unkind word muttered by someone.. I have learned that true heartache can be caused from the pain of seeing my children struggle.
I have learned true love....
I have learned how to fully function on an hour of sleep, and still be able to roll out of bed and be so thankful it's me taking care of Kyle and not a Doctor or nurse.
I have learned to love my husband in more ways than I ever thought possible on the day I married him.
I have learned how to be an advocate for my children, to stand up for them, and in doing so I have learned how to stand up for myself.
I have learned how to be a nurse, a wife, a mother and a friend all in the same day, sometimes all in the same hour.
I have learned to stay calm, even when my son is struggling for a breath.
I have learned that life is not always perfect or for that matter nice...but that with the strength from family and friends I can get thru anything.
I have learned that with the bad can come good...I have found a whole new group of friends and family here on Share who I would be lost without.
I have learned that I can do this...that on my worse day. I can survive.
I have learned sign language, g tube placement, CPR, how to give 14 meds a day, ned treatments, and chest pt... But the best part of my life is I truly believe is I have learned how to be a good Mommy... sometimes I am so overwhelmed at how lucky I am!
For anyone who would like to read her personal blogs on her March of Dimes site here is the link: www.shareyourstory.org www.stclairfamily.org
With all our LOVE, Mollie and Pat ( two of your biggest fans).
...the feeling you get when you recieve one of these kits is awesome.
