One of my very good friends from high school, Shayla, had a baby this week. When Shayla and I were Juniors in High School Shayla received some difficult heart breaking news, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. What should have been a care free year rounding out her high school experience, being a care free teen were spent with oncologists, needles, chemotherapy, and radiation. Instead of shopping for prom dresses she was shopping for wigs. Shayla made it through her senior year and her cancer. With all the things she went through as a teen, her family was unsure if she would ever be able to have children of her own, or carry them to term. This week Shayla gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Cole Jamon Neilson. When Cole was 4 days old his grandmother, a registered nurse, was holding him and realized he was not breathing. She hopped into action performing CPR and ultimately saving his life. The doctor informed Shayla she had not been feeding him enough and he was severely dehydrated. She was referred to a lactation counselor and was told her milk does not have enough nutrients for the baby and she must feed him a mixture of formula and breast milk. He had lost a pound since birth but is going to be alright. The doctor told her that she must feed on a schedule and not wait for the baby to let her know when he was hungry. What a true miracle to not only have Cole but to have a mother that was keen enough to notice something was wrong and take action without emotion. I am so excited for Shalya, Jamon and Cole and wish them nothing but happiness in their life. Good luck with your move to Wyoming!
