Christopher John Limb

This is my amazing first born son, Christopher. Christopher was born on December 9, 1999. He weighed in at 2 lbs 2 1/2 oz and was 14 inched long. Obviously he made his appearance early, 14 weeks early to be exact. Christopher has had a lot of challenges in his life. He started out life in the NICU at The University of Utah Medical Center. He was a patients there for 10 days until he developed a bowel perforation with NEC, then he was transferred to Primary Children's Medical Center for emergency surgery. The doctors there did not think he would survive the surgery because he was so very sick. He ended up losing 7 centimeters of his intestine including his Ileocecal Valve. This valve is found between the small and large intestines.Basically it regulates when waste is moved. Christopher has a very hard time putting on weight as a result of losing this valve.

After surgery he had a colostomy for about 3 months until his intestines healed enough to hook them back up.I was so relieved to see him survive the surgery.The doctors were surprised as well, they had told me to start thinking of funeral arrangements for him before they took him to surgery, he was that sick.

Christopher 2 days after his birth at the U of U Hospital.



This was the day that the U of U transferred him to PCMC for his NEC and bowel perforation. He was so sick and looked so terrible.This was one of the worst days of my life.

Christopher hours after his bowel surgery.He already looks a million times better.What a trooper! Chris would end up staying in the NICU for almost 6 months. After his scare with NEC, he developed a brain bleed in his cerabellum.The bleed destroyed almost all of his cerabellum.He developed Hydrocephalus as a result of this.The Neurosurgeons put a shunt in his brain to drain off the excess fluid because his third ventrical became obstructed from blood.Over the months in the NICU we faced feeding problems, shunt infections, yeast sepsis and so many other health issues. We had so many middle of the night phone calls from the NICU Neonatologists telling us that he was crashing and to get up to the hospital asap so that we could hold him before he passed away.Every time, my tough little boy would pull through.The NICU is a wonderful and horrible place.The people there are amazing and do a fantastic job, and I saw many miracles there, I also saw and went through so much heartache.I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

Eventually our little miracle was able to come home.That was certainly very bittersweet for us.I wanted him home, but leaving the security of the NICU scared me beyond belief. I was actually glad that we were going home with monitors, feeding tubes and home health services. Over time, we adjusted to having him home and our lives have been so full of love. Chris is doing so well now.He has Ataxic CP and he had to get another shunt placed. We have had 65 shunts to date.That is a lot of time in the hospital for a little boy! He has had shunt infections, endocarditis and so many other illnesses and surgeries. We were told he would never talk,eat,walk,situp or communicate at all. Today he runs, talks, reads, goes to school and eats like a piggy! He still has a lot of chronic health problems, but he deals with them so good and has deified all the odds. He is my little miracle and teaches me something new everyday! I love him so much!