Kelli Kelley
Preterm Labor Tragedy Turns To Triumph With The Help Of The March Of Dimes

by Darline Turner Lee, Physician Assistant, ACSM Exercise Specialist

Article Last Reviewed: Sept. 9, 2006

All is well in little Lauren Kelley’s world. She sits contentedly in an over-sized easy chair, a multi-colored blanket held close to her face watching Pooh Bear and Tigger on television. Mom is close by, with a quick snack or impromptu hugs. Big brother Jackson provides entertainment and companionship. The cherubic toddler shows no signs of her initial struggle for survival. But the events are still vivid memories to her mother, Kelli Kelley.

“Lauren was born six weeks early,” recounts Kelley. “Although she looked great at birth, with good color and Apgar (initial newborn physical assessment) scores, she developed severe jaundice due to her premature liver and was placed in the Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) at St. David’s Medical Center. Thankfully, doctors quickly discovered that Lauren’s condition was the result of an Rh incompatibility between her blood type and mine. She was treated with two blood transfusions and medications and made slow, steady improvement.”

Kelley is thankful that Lauren’s condition was detected and treated quickly. Although it was difficult to have her daughter in the NICU instead of in her room, the hospital stay is a bittersweet memory for her.

“My mom came and stayed with me in my room the entire time that I was in the hospital. She would go and get take out food for the two of us, and bring back little gifts for me and sometimes for the nurses. She painted our toenails, styled my hair and created a slumber party atmosphere for me. She kept my spirits high, which was important because it would have been easy for me to be discouraged. It was truly a special bonding time for the both of us.”

Kelley knew that she was at high risk for having a premature baby with her second pregnancy, and had had a cerclage, her cervix stitched closed, early in the pregnancy. Her first pregnancy had ended with preterm labor and an emergency cesarean section delivery of her son Jackson at just 24 weeks. So although the early arrival, NICU admission and subsequent treatment for Lauren’s condition was stressful, it was nothing compared to what had happened when Jackson was born.

“The day Jackson was born was the first day in my pregnancy that I had really felt great. I had finally gotten past the months of nausea and was finally able to wear maternity clothes. I was really looking forward to the rest of my pregnancy, labor and delivery, holding my baby and nursing him for the first time,” recalls Kelley. Sadly, this wasn’t her experience.

Kelley was still working full time in public relations when she experienced her first pangs of preterm labor. Towards the end of the day her back began to hurt. Figuring that she needed to rest, she decided to pack up and head home early to beat the rush hour traffic. In the elevator, she had a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. Still, Kelley headed for home only to be greeted with bumper-to-bumper traffic that barely inched along. All the while, Kelley kept having more frequent and more intense abdominal pains.

When she finally arrived home over an hour later, she couldn’t ignore the pains or contain her fear. Crying, she turned to her husband and said, “Something is wrong. I’m sick.” Unsure of what to do, Kelley and her husband frantically called her mother. When she did not answer, they called his mother--in Detroit, Michigan. After they answered a few very pointed questions, she wisely advised them to call 911 and get to the hospital immediately.

Paramedics arrived and were not impressed with Kelley’s symptoms, even though by the time they had arrived, she had begun to bleed vaginally. They advised her to rest and to see her obstetrician in the morning, but Kelley’s husband insisted that she be evaluated at the hospital, so she was taken to St. David’s Medical Center via ambulance. Jackson was born within the hour by emergency cesarean section. He weighed one pound and eight ounces and was twelve and one half inches long.

Jackson’s condition was critical. He was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth. He spent four months, 105 days in the NICU. He had his first heart surgery to close a heart valve at five days old, and had a total of three surgeries by 10 months. The doctors warned Kelley and her husband that Jackson may have mental retardation. He may have cerebral palsy, vision problems and lung problems, and may be deaf. But with each treatment, Jackson fought, rallied and got stronger. His formidable spirit earned him the name “Action Jackson.”

Today, Jackson is a four and a half and Lauren is two. Jackson may face lifelong lung problems and learning delays, but to date, his miniature glasses are the only visible hint of the struggles that accompanied his and his sister’s entries into this world. Much of their survival is attributed to prayer and the support of family and friends. Kelley credits the March of Dimes for the lives of her children, especially Jackson.

“The March of Dimes is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality,” says Fawn Escalante, Director of Communications. Established in 1938 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the March of Dimes has been instrumental in providing funds, resources, and implementing research projects to decrease infant and child mortality. They provided the funds and resources that enabled Dr. Jonas Salk to develop the first Polio vaccine. They were the first to establish walking events as fund-raisers. The very first WalkAmerica event took place in 1970 in San Antonio to raise funds for research to prevent birth defects. The March of Dimes spearheaded regionalization of NICU’s so that infants in critical condition can receive the specialized care they need to survive. Before the development of NICU’s, 70 percent of low birthweight babies died. Today, more than 90 percent live. They provide families with support (i.e. Preemie Posse support groups and NICU Grad Families playgroups), and make sure that infants with special needs get the care and resources they need to survive.

This year, WalkAmerica will take place on May 7th in Austin, and will be held at Auditorium Shores. There is no cost to participate, but funds raised will be used to further research to reduce premature births. Eighty percent of all the money the March of Dimes receives in Texas goes towards research. The Kelley Family is serving as Ambassadors for the Austin Division of the March of Dimes and the 2005 WalkAmerica Campaign.

“I owe the lives of my children to the March of Dimes,” says Kelley. “It’s truly a remarkable organization and people aren’t aware of the incredible work they’ve done. I am honored to share my story and help raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of preterm labor and the work of the March of Dimes.”

The Signs and Symptoms of Preterm Labor

Call your health care provider or go to the hospital right away if you think you are having preterm labor, or if you have even one of the following warning signs.:

• Contractions (your abdomen tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often
• Change in the vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from your vagina)
• Pelvic Pressure-the feeling that your baby is pushing down
• Low, dull backache
• Cramps that feel like your period
• Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea

Texas Facts about prematurity:

• One in eight babies is born preterm
• The rate of preterm births in Texas increased 21 percent between 1992 and 2002
• Prematurity/low birthweight is the leading cause of death in the first month of life
  
• In an average week in Texas:
  • 948 babies are born preterm
  • 551 babies are born low birthweight
  • Seven babies die as a result of prematurity/low birthweight