Stem cells for Teigan Leigh
Donation protected
For those of you that have not heard Teigan's story, I would like to share a little bit with you. During the last month of my pregnancy, 4 years ago, Teigan began to endure Hypoxia to the brain due to a very tiny placenta and umbilical cord. She was born on her due date after a very difficult delivery. The midwife put Teigan on my chest and she began to turn blue. After nearly 5 minutes, she was resuscitated and rushed to choc hospital where she was almost lost again due to seizing. She then went through a brain cooling process to stop any further damage to her brain.
At 3 days old, Teigan had an MRI to see what her damage looked like. We were given the worst news parents would ever want to receive. Teigan's brain trauma was global meaning every square inch of her brain was very damaged. The team of neurologists told us there would be no way Teigan could ever recover from this. At this time, she was on a ventilator, feeding tube, antibiotics, blood transfusions every day....
We were told her brain stem was black showing no signs of life. The doctors said it would be very unlikely for her to breath on her own after removing the ventilator. As of then, her diagnoses was severe HIE and under that, Teigan would have Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, and CVI.
On day 4 i was FINALLY able to hold my daughter for the first real time. Even with all the IVs and tubes and machines, i was able to hold her skin to skin. Teigan's vitals immediately started to improve. I held her for 4 hours, unable to move a muscle but in complete bliss loving on my baby. Come midnight i had to put her down. Then next morning, the nurses informed me that Teigan finally slept through the night and didn't have to be given morphine for the first time to settle her. To me, she started improving.
After almost 2 weeks, it was time to remove the ventilator. I knew she would breath...and she did. The next day, the doctors wanted us to know this didn't change the sad news we were given and they assured us that Teigan would never have a quality life. A week later they sent us home with hospice care for Teigan. It was beyond devastating... but we did not give up.
A couple days after being home, i got Teigan to take a bottle. There was hope. At just 4 weeks old, we started therapy. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, aqua therapy, hyperbaric therapy. At almost 1 she had her first stem cell treatment. Unfortunately her body didn't handle it too well. It was really hard on her and her body seemed to reject it. At about 2 1/2 we tried again with better results but nothing major changed. Teigan is now turning 4 years old on December 30th and we want to try round 3. This time we want to fly her to mexico where they will take the stem cells from Teigan's bone marrow and give it back to her over the course of a week. The results from using your own stem cells is said to be way greater.
Teigan still has a feeding tube because she can't eat much more than tastes right now. She has a hard time sitting on her own. (We are always holding her). She is VERY strong! Likes to watch kids play around her but isn't quite there where she can play with any toys herself. Our biggest goal right now is getting her to sit on her own. That way we can get her in a chair and most importantly a car seat! Our hope is that the stem cells can help us get there. Teigan is a fighter like i've never witnessed before and she deserves all the things to help her have an enjoyable life.
Although the doctor's diagnoses still remain, Teigan lives a very full life. She is so inquisitive, has her own way of communicating, very smart and knows what you're saying to her. Her emotions say everything.
If there is any way you can help us help Teigan, it would be so beyond appreciated. We hope to set the trip for February and then immediately begin an intensive MNRI therapy when we return home. Please share her story to everyone you know and show people that even when the odds are so against you, there is always hope and miracles do exist.
At 3 days old, Teigan had an MRI to see what her damage looked like. We were given the worst news parents would ever want to receive. Teigan's brain trauma was global meaning every square inch of her brain was very damaged. The team of neurologists told us there would be no way Teigan could ever recover from this. At this time, she was on a ventilator, feeding tube, antibiotics, blood transfusions every day....
We were told her brain stem was black showing no signs of life. The doctors said it would be very unlikely for her to breath on her own after removing the ventilator. As of then, her diagnoses was severe HIE and under that, Teigan would have Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, and CVI.
On day 4 i was FINALLY able to hold my daughter for the first real time. Even with all the IVs and tubes and machines, i was able to hold her skin to skin. Teigan's vitals immediately started to improve. I held her for 4 hours, unable to move a muscle but in complete bliss loving on my baby. Come midnight i had to put her down. Then next morning, the nurses informed me that Teigan finally slept through the night and didn't have to be given morphine for the first time to settle her. To me, she started improving.
After almost 2 weeks, it was time to remove the ventilator. I knew she would breath...and she did. The next day, the doctors wanted us to know this didn't change the sad news we were given and they assured us that Teigan would never have a quality life. A week later they sent us home with hospice care for Teigan. It was beyond devastating... but we did not give up.
A couple days after being home, i got Teigan to take a bottle. There was hope. At just 4 weeks old, we started therapy. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, aqua therapy, hyperbaric therapy. At almost 1 she had her first stem cell treatment. Unfortunately her body didn't handle it too well. It was really hard on her and her body seemed to reject it. At about 2 1/2 we tried again with better results but nothing major changed. Teigan is now turning 4 years old on December 30th and we want to try round 3. This time we want to fly her to mexico where they will take the stem cells from Teigan's bone marrow and give it back to her over the course of a week. The results from using your own stem cells is said to be way greater.
Teigan still has a feeding tube because she can't eat much more than tastes right now. She has a hard time sitting on her own. (We are always holding her). She is VERY strong! Likes to watch kids play around her but isn't quite there where she can play with any toys herself. Our biggest goal right now is getting her to sit on her own. That way we can get her in a chair and most importantly a car seat! Our hope is that the stem cells can help us get there. Teigan is a fighter like i've never witnessed before and she deserves all the things to help her have an enjoyable life.
Although the doctor's diagnoses still remain, Teigan lives a very full life. She is so inquisitive, has her own way of communicating, very smart and knows what you're saying to her. Her emotions say everything.
If there is any way you can help us help Teigan, it would be so beyond appreciated. We hope to set the trip for February and then immediately begin an intensive MNRI therapy when we return home. Please share her story to everyone you know and show people that even when the odds are so against you, there is always hope and miracles do exist.
Organizer
Taryn Leigh McCann
Organizer
Fullerton, CA