Baby Kaycee Enjoys Life as a Happy, Healthy, Two Year Old
By Lindsey Rodrian
Kaycee Hatch of Weston Ranch was born at 27 weeks, weighing one pound and 10 ounces. Although her mother Danielle followed proper practice and precaution for a safe and healthy pregnancy, she still faced the heartbreak of premature birth. Kaycee’s early birth was cause of preeclampsia, a complication involving Danielle’s high blood pressure and organ function.
In July 2013 Danielle was promptly admitted to Dameron Hospital. She and her baby were monitored, receiving an ultrasound every four hours. On the third day of their stay, Danielle had an emergency C-section, and Kaycee was taken to the NICU where the Dameron team worked aggressively to keep her alive. Almost exactly 12 hours after Kaycee’s birth, Danielle was finally able to see her baby. Because Danielle’s epidural had not yet worn off, a kind nurse named Christine wheeled her hospital bed through the tight halls and gently removed Kaycee from the incubator and into Danielle’s arms. As she held her tiny baby, attached to tubes and wires, she cried for the tough road ahead.
A few hours later, Danielle was informed that her daughter had a blockage in her intestine and must be immediately transported to a pediatric surgeon at Kaiser Roseville. The next morning Danielle was transported to Kaycee, who had just spent the first night of her life away from her mother.
Soon after, specialists discovered a large hole in the ventricle of Kaycee’s heart. Because of the multiple anomalies, doctors decided to run a full panel test for genetic conditions. To Danielle’s relief, “All results came back negative. It restored my faith and strengthened my will to fight on.”
Kaycee’s battle continued. Over the next five months she received two open-heart surgeries and multiple others on her eyes and intestine. Danielle, who drove nearly 200 miles a day to hold her daughter for a fleeting hour, found comfort in nurse Ruth who cared for Kaycee as her own, and provided Danielle with words of wisdom.
Today, Danielle sends Nurse Ruth pictures of two-year-old Kaycee, who was recently released from the High-Risk Infant Follow-up Team and is walking and talking a mile a minute. As a teacher at Manteca Unified School District, Danielle was ecstatic to receive news from doctors that Kaycee is cognitively on track. “I just enjoy so much watching her explore and learn,” Danielle smiles.
March of Dimes’ Chefs Auction October 8th
For its fourth year, Stockton’s March of Dimes will host their Signature Chefs Auction October 8th at Stockton Arena. The event unites talented local chefs including lead chef Jeff Stogsdill, vintners like Weibel Winery, and area leaders in support of local mothers, and babies born prematurely or with birth defects. Those in attendance are in for a treat, with opportunity to sample chef creations before taking their seat for the live auction. Proceeds support the March of Dimes’ mission to fund research and development of treatments for babies born too soon. This year’s Ambassador family, the Hatchs, will share their story in support of the same mission.
Currently, March of Dimes funds more than $2.3 million in research related to preeclampsia, the condition that caused Kaycee’s premature birth.
For More Information:
SignatureChefs.org/stockton