Jessa DeMoss

When we got pregnant with our daughter it was the happiest day of our lives. Her dad and I had been trying for 3 years and were at a point where we didn't think it would ever happen. It started out scary from the very first Dr appointment. The nurse said she couldn't find anything in my uterus. The doctor then came in and confirmed everything was fine. At 16 weeks I was sent to a Dr in Cambridge (yes London) for further testing that confirmed out baby wasn't getting enough blood and that one of the main arteries in the umbilical cord wasn't working properly. I was then put on aspirin, scheduled twice a week for ultrasounds and 3-4 times a week for non-stress testing. All of this was happening while her dad and I were stationed overseas, 20 years old and with out any family or friends for support. 5 days before I found out I was pregnant we had recieved orders to move to California only 3 months before our baby was due. Ugh! We were in for a long journey. After arriving in California on November 1st we had to wait until December 1st to finally get our household items. The testing was still going on and on December 5th my Dr's told me this would be the month of my delivery. I called my family in Washington state and they were starting preparations to fly down. On our way home from our appointment (we lived over an hour away) that evening my doc called and said he had talked with my other doctors and they weren't comfortable with me waiting a month because my baby hadn't grown enough from the previous appointment so I was to come in on Friday at 7am. My heart sank. My family flew in on Wednesday and they started to induce me Friday, only 5 weeks before my due date. During my induction her heart rate dropped dangerously low so at 11:52 the nurse told me an emergency c-section was in order. and at 12:19 my baby girl was born. Typically 5 weeks is not a huge deal for babies being early but our baby had been in the 0-5% my whole pregnancy. She came out smaller than I had ever seen a baby and completely blue. It was that moment my life turned around completely, I laid there praying to God out loud that I would give my life for hers if only she would breathe, that I would serve him and only him for as long as I lived and raise my daughter know him if only he would let her breathe. So many emotions went through my head sadness, fear, anger, so many questions I had and all I could think of to do was pray. After what seemed like hours and watching, what her dad and I were convinced was, our new born baby girl that we waited for and prayed for passing away right in front of our eyes, she took her first breath and color started to come over her. Immediately, they grabbed her up let me kiss her head and rushed her into the nicu. I didn't even get to see what she looked like. Jenalyhn Christine was born at 35.4 weeks at 3lbs 15oz and 18 3/4 inches long. For 5 long weeks she was in the nicu and we had to drive an hour to the hospital everyday to see her. We spent literally every giftcard and every penny we had on gas and food. All along preparing to separate from the military at the same time. That hardest most emotional situation of my entire life. I thank God everyday for that first breath and every one she has taken since that terrifying afternoon. She is now 13 years old and the most imaginative, beautiful little girl inside and out. God blessed us with another little girl 23 months later in November. This May I will be walking for my little girl. Jenalyhn. Please support my walk. Making a secure donation is easy: just click the 'donate now' button on this page. Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!