My journey with Percreta. Rachel's survivor story!

Well here goes my story. I started having problems at week 20 with spotting so I went to my gynecologist at Hillcrest Hospital. He did an ultra sound and he suspected placenta Previa. At 23 weeks I went back to him due to heavy bleeding. Another ultra sound and by this time my placenta was looking like Swiss cheese. I was admitted into hospital to try and stop the bleeding, which they did. I had another big bleed at 26 weeks. My doctor then decided to admit me into hospital for bedrest and to send me to a fetal specialist for a second opinion. I was diagnosed with Placenta Precreta. I was told that it was life threatening. He wanted me to stay in hospital until the delivery of the baby, to get the blood on stand by and my medical team on standby as well.

I got a dull pain and it got worse at 29 weeks into my pregnancy they decided to do the emergency C section on the 4^th June 2015.

My husband and I, the night of my delivery.

My son's paediatrician and nurse.

My son was born premature, weighing 1,3kg at 29 weeks. The picture is of him in the NICU, where he stayed for 7 weeks.

In the theater while my medical team was delivering, I started to hemorrhage. They had to perform an emergency C-section and an emergency Hysterectomy. While this was happening I flat-lined. They had to resuscitate me. During that time 12 units of blood were used. That night while I went to ICU my anesthetist stayed with me in case of more bleeding, which happened. I was rushed back into theater (another 8 units of blood) that evening they managed to stop the bleeding (2 more units). I was in a critical condition, incubated on life support. My gynecologist told my husband that the next 24 hours they would know if I was going to make it or not. It was a very stressful time for my family at that time. Overall they used 30 units of blood. They say that blood is a gift of life they were sure right about that. It helped save my life. During that time In ICU I was incubated for three days and they had me sedated. I was awake a couple of times during that time and remember thinking that I must swallow hard. I did have another surgery done in hospital due to an abscess and infection around my pelvic area. That caused me to have antibiotics and Vac therapy on my wound.

Me with the Vac.

 

The first time I held my son!

I had great support from my family and friends and my church they even held a service for myself and my son. I was even surprised how strangers even came up to me and wanted to pray. During this time my husband was also a pillar of strength he supported me in every way possible taking photos and keeping me updated with our son. I was in the hospital for seven weeks in total, on the Vac machine for another eight weeks and had two more operations over the next five months. During my road to recovery over 6 months after my ordeal with the beast, my mom was a big help. 

 

My mom with my youngest son.

I am glad that I am alive today it was one challenging journey but I am glad to say that I have beaten the beast. I am so thankful to all the staff that assisted me and my son in Hillcrest hospital. And of cause to my family,  friends and all the others who played part in my journey. Of cause the big thank you to God. 

My special family!