By Laurel Droz
Staff Writer
After nearly two years of trying to conceive, Dan and Miki Keller, of Goodrich, couldn’t wait for baby daughter Reagan to be born.
Little did they know quite how soon that would be.
Twenty-six weeks into her pregnancy, Miki went into labor. Three days later, 1 pound, 9 ounces Reagan was born.
Miki said despite having had doctors tell her she would never conceive without fertility drugs, she knew right away when she became pregnant with her daughter.
‘I just knew,? says Miki, 25, smiling at the memory. ‘I just knew and I was excited.?
However, Miki couldn’t shake her anxiety that something might be wrong, as she continued to experience spotting throughout her pregnancy. At first, doctors told her it wasn’t anything atypical for women in the early stages of pregnancy. But 12 weeks later, Miki said she had some bleeding and feared there may be a problem.
Dan, 32, drove Miki to North Oakland Medical Center in Pontiac, a hospital selected by the couple because of what they considered an exceptional staff available to handle any problems that might come up.
After arriving at NOMC, Miki was told the back pains she’d been experiencing since the previous evening were actually the early stages of labor.
Only 26 weeks into her pregnancy, Miki was found to have an incompetent cervix, a condition that renders it difficult to carry a baby to term.
‘Incompetent cervix is a common cause of pre-term delivery,? said Abdur Rasheed, a doctor in the neonatology department at NOMC. Rasheed added that about 10 percent of babies are born prematurely.
Doctors placed Miki on Magnesium Sulfate and positioned her so she nearly stood on her head to stave off labor while they gave her steroids to advance her baby’s lungs as much as possible.
‘Basically, at 26 weeks the baby is premature,? said Rasheed. ‘Therefore, all the organs of the baby are premature. The lungs are premature and parts of them can collapse.?
However, said Rasheed, a baby’s odds of survival increase incrementally every week past the 25- week mark.
‘Most of the concern is with morbidity not mortality,? said Rasheed, meaning instead of survival, doctors become more concerned with the health of the child.
Rasheed said major health concerns with a baby born as early as 26 weeks include: hearing impairments; cognitive problems and issues with motor skills; problems with intestines and digestion; vision problems and bleeding in the brain. Because the baby isn’t fully developed, their immune system will likely be weaker than that of a full-term baby, added Rasheed.
Miki said she was made all too aware of the risks involved with early delivery.
‘One of the doctors had all of these doom and gloom outlooks,? said Miki. ‘We were just like, whatever comes our way, we’re going to deal with it.?
Meanwhile, Dan, an officer for the White Lake Police Department, was only able to stand by and watch as the ordeal unfolded.
‘I was horrified,? said Dan. ‘I’m not a control freak but? (in an emergency) I usually can do this, this and this. I’m a police officer, that’s what I do.?
Unable to help his child, Dan said he focused all of his attention on his wife.
‘Trying to keep her comfortable was my main priority,? said Dan.
Eventually, Miki said doctors decided there was no more delaying the birth.
‘It got to the point where I thought they were fighting nature,? said Miki. ‘Finally, they said, ‘We’re going to take her by C-Section.? I was nervous, but I was relieved. I felt they could treat her directly, not through me.?
On March 29, Reagan was born.
Miki said she was told her daughter would have a 40-percent chance of survival.
Miki and Dan said almost immediately after Reagan was born, she was whisked away by physicians.
Dan recalls his shock at seeing the tiny person his wife had just delivered.
‘She was so tiny, I was just thinking, ‘no way,?? said Dan.
Reagan was so small, in fact, that her dad’s wedding ring easily fit the whole way up her arm, which was just a bit smaller around than the thumb of an average adult.
Reagan’s parents said complications followed the birth of their daughter, including her becoming temporarily diabetic and having heart problems.
The already tiny infant dropped down to 1 pound, 5 ounces that first week in the hospital. When she did appear to gain weight, it was actually just fluid in her lungs, prompting doctors to keep her on diuretics.
Dan and Miki had a hard time reading doctors? reactions to their inquiries about Reagan. For a while their daughter’s health teetered between better and worse.
‘The doctors didn’t want to give us false hope,? said Dan.
Additionally, Miki said she missed out on a month of being able to hold her newborn because of her being so fragile. When Reagan was strong enough to be held, Miki and Dan said they were scared to do so for fear of hurting her.
‘It was scary,? recalled Miki. ‘I didn’t want to make her sick or hurt her.?
In spite of his concern, Dan said he couldn’t wait to cradle his child.
Dan adopted his own way of dealing with the uncertainty of those first few months.
‘I hope for the best and plan for the worst,? said Dan.
However, about two-and-a-half months after her birth, doctors began to act confident about Reagan’s odds, and talk about her coming home.
It was an idea that simultaneously excited and terrified Miki, who was worried about the frail baby leaving the security of the hospital.
On June 23, baby Reagan finally came home.
The now 8 pound, 11ounces baby has to wear an apnea monitor at all times until she can go for a set amount of time without any episodes with her heart rate. Visitors are strictly limited, and trips outside are mostly reserved for visits to doctors because of her weakened immune system. Miki, who previously planned a life as a career woman for herself, has become a full-time, stay-at-home mom. She says it’s the best thing to come of this.
‘Everything changed, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,? said Miki.
Rasheed said Reagan will need to continue to receive some special attention. She will still need to be closely followed to make sure she is developing well,? said Rasheed. Additionally, Miki and Dan will have to keep an eye on when Reagan hits milestones such as talking , walking, and holding her head up, to make sure she is progressing at a healthy rate.
Dan said both he and Miki are unendingly grateful for the support they have received.
‘I just want to thank everybody for their support,? said Dan. ‘Especially the White Lake Police Department, Lakeland High School (where Dan is a liaison officer), neighbors, family and St. Mark Catholic Church.?
Both Dan and Miki said there is one group of people especially deserving of their gratitude.
‘The doctors and nurses who saved her life,? said Miki. ‘On a daily basis, they saved her.?