Kara Almost Didn’t Survive Birth
Linda and Tom were married in 1996, excited to start a family and build their lives together. In November of 1997, it was confirmed the Salvetti’s were going to grow their family and welcome their first born baby in August of 1998. The excitement grew as they shared the news with their families and began preparing for the new baby.
Sadly, all that changed on August 14, when Linda was rushed into an emergency C-section when it was discovered the baby’s heart rate had dropped dramatically and the doctors needed to save the baby. Kara was born. What normally is a most joyous occasion quickly became a great source of pain and concern for the family as poor little helpless Kara clung to life, minute to minute just to survive.
Kara was born with an 80 percent blood loss. Immediately upon birth Kara was resuscitated. She suffered seizures, kidney failure and had to be intubated. The days were long and the nights even longer. No one could say for certain if Kara would survive, but one thing was clear if she did, she would be severely disabled from the oxygen deprivation. The odds were against her.
The days turn into weeks and Kara managed to hang on. The breathing tube was removed and slowly she started to show signs of small progress. With each new day brought a new challenge. The seizures were controlled by medication and her kidney function was restored, described by the nephrologist as a “miracle.” Despite this progress, Kara was not sustaining weight and unable to keep down her feedings, so surgery was ordered for fundoplication and a gastrostomy tube was inserted. Again, Kara showed her strength as she came through the surgery. Discussions began of discharging her home. Kara’s parents learned everything to take care of their fragile baby so she could transition home and at age 2 months Kara slept in her crib for the very first time.
Deeply worried for the future of their daughter the family was directed to have Kara evaluated by Children’s Specialized Hospital.
Kara was evaluated and recommended for a program called Day Hospital. Linda brought Kara every day for intense therapy that included occupational, speech/feeding, and physical therapy. She was evaluated for proper seating and was evaluated daily by the resident pediatrician. Together the staff at Children’s Specialized helped the family navigate challenges Kara presented. Making recommendations when necessary to determine how best to help Kara to be comfortable so she could participate in therapy.
Children’s Specialized Hospital and their staff offered expert knowledge, support, education and at times a shoulder to cry on. They taught Linda how to change her g-tube, something she had never thought she could do. They embraced Kara and were motivated to help Kara be the best that Kara could be.
It took time and patience. After the six week program ended, Kara was recommended to continue therapy on an outpatient basis. Instead of bringing her to therapy 5 days a week, she came 3 days a week. And we all worked together and instead of going on “mommy and me” play dates, Linda thought of this as their special routine.
Time went by especially fast when you have a busy routine and before the family knew it Kara, was nearing age 3 and they were visiting schools for find the most appropriate environment to care for Kara and to continue building on all they had done these past three years.
The years of work helped to prepare Kara to be able to attend special needs school. Linda and Tom then welcomed their second daughter, Allison. The most caring sister Kara could ever hope to have. Life started to fall into place for the family, they had a routine and confidence.
Fifteen years later, Linda can clearly define the outcome as a miracle. “It may be a different definition of miracle than anyone else’s, but for our family Children’s Specialized offered that to us and much more. The Hospital has become our extended family and our second home. I always say it took the “village” of Children’s Specialized Hospital to raise Kara.”
Today, Tom and Linda are the proud parents of two teenage daughters and they do activities like any other family, like going to Disney and spending time at the Jersey shore.