Meet Hadley
HADLEY'S STORY
With a nine-year-old already, I thought I knew what to expect when I found out I was pregnant with my second child. It wasn’t until well into the third trimester that I learned my baby girl had CDH. We had a thousand questions and were overwhelmed with emotions, but we never lost hope.
Whatever needed to be done, that’s what we would do. At 36 weeks along, I left our home in eastern New York to go to Pennsylvania to be in the capable, caring hands of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. With my husband working full-time and our daughter, Haidyn, in school, I had to make the trek alone.
Within two weeks, my husband was able to join me to be there for the birth of Hadley. Without a chance to hold our baby, she was whisked away and intubated. Hadley’s intestines were in her chest cavity. When she was just three days old, she underwent surgery and came through it like a champ. It wasn’t until her fifth day that we could finally hold her.
For 50 days, our little, sweet hero would stay in the NICU. Every day with her, we counted as a gift. Some days brought challenges that no parent should have to go through. Twice in her first five weeks, Hadley’s airway closed. Both times, the amazing staff at the hospital was able to dilate her airway and get her breathing again.
Just shy of two months, Hadley’s feeding tube was removed, and we were able to go home! Haidyn was thrilled to finally be able to play the role of big sister, and our beagle, Lucy, never strays too far away from our sweet baby. Despite the challenges, Hadley is full of smiles and enjoys every minute she gets to be in her swing.
Less than two months after her major surgery, she was strong enough to travel to spend Christmas with our extended family. We truly had much to celebrate and be thankful for.
The last several months have been a very emotional time, yet we can look back on it with much gratitude. We’re surrounded by an awesome support network of family, friends, and co-workers. We are forever grateful for the excellent care our girl was given at the Children’s Hospital and the encouragement and assistance from Fore Hadley.
We know that there will likely be more hurdles to come, and we are entirely confident that when they arise, Hadley again will face each one with strength and determination.
About the Fore Hadley Angels in the NICU Fund
Support and proceeds for the Fore Hadley Angels in the NICU Fund will go towards assisting current and future families like Landen’s, by providing financial contributions to assist families with the costs associated with extended, long distance travel and living arrangements. Costs that are often a must to ensure the proper specialty care for CDH babies.