Miracle Man, Ashley and Baby Lenny
This is a story about hope, prayer, positive energy, and medical expertise. This is an uplifting story about three awesome people surrounded by love. A story about miracles....
Two years ago Andrew and Ashley Goette were married and ready to start a family right away. Initially the going was tough, they experienced much heartache getting and staying pregnant. Then good news...they would be having a baby boy, our first miracle!
Fast forward 9 months to early morning Tuesday, October 16th...the eve of their planned induction. Ashley awoke to Andrew in distress and not breathing. She called 911 and began CPR, by the time the paramedics arrived Andrew was in full Cardiac Arrest and had been without oxygen for a significant period of time. Acting fast, the medics re-started his heart and rushed him to United Hospital.
In the first hours of treatment at the ER and ICU the prognosis was dire. CT and MRI scans, along with clinical signs, pointed to catastrophic brain injury. The team of specialists treating Andrew prepared the family for the worst...it was likely he would not wake up from this.
Then something happened. Family, friends, and strangers began an overwhelming outpouring of prayer and positive thought, wrapping Andrew in a blanket of protective energy. The amazing medical team at United's ICU took it from there, lowering his body temperature for 24 hours to let his brain hopefully heal. By his side the whole time was Ashley, calm and collected, telling him she would wait to have this baby until he woke up.
The next day it was time to re-warm Andrew's body and remove the life support. His EEG was still showing an Alpha-Coma pattern, an uncertain sign.
As the nurse began to remove the sedatives, Andrew began to twitch. Still thinking it could be shivering or a seizure his nurse Libby said "Andrew open your eyes"...and as if in a movie, he did exactly that!
Opening his eyes, he focused on each family member in the room. They asked him to squeeze my hand and he did, wiggle his toes and he did, thumbs up with your right, thumbs up with your left, yes! What everyone witnessed was unexplainable. Joyful. Our second miracle!
Slowly over the next 36 hrs Andrew displayed continued recovery. All signs now pointed to very little cognitive damage. However, there was no time to rest, it was now Momma's turn. Time for them to meet their baby...Ashley would be induced Thursday night in the maternity ward a floor below!
The only problem is Dad needed 24 hr one-on-one monitoring, but wanted to be there for his wife and baby. Once again, the amazing professionals at United came to the rescue. They made arrangements to move Andrew into Ashley's laboring room and delay his scheduled heart procedure to Monday so they could be together....
Baby day, Friday October 19th! As if they hadn't faced enough challenges already, the induction process for Ashley stalled for her at 5cm. After trying everything possible to get baby down, the doctors informed her a C-section would be required. Because of limitations in the OR, Andrew would have to watch via Facetime in the next room. Not the situation they had hoped for, but the whole week was full of unexpected events so what was one more!
Then at 5:16 we all welcomed Lennon Andrew Goette, 6lb, 14 oz of cuteness who got to meet his dad right away!
Miracle number three!
Today Andrew underwent a heart procedure to resolve his heart arrhythmia. The surgery was a great success! Dr. Peterson was extremely happy with the results and said his heart went from “pretty messed up” to “bad ass”...he should feel better than he ever has going forward!
Ashley, Andrew, and Lenny are eternally grateful for the love and support so many people have given! They are especially grateful to the First Responders and all of the amazing people at United hospital, without them this story could have ended very differently!
As wonderful an ending that has been written, there is one final obstacle in the immediate future...the cost for all of this care! While Andrew's insurance will be a great help it will not cover everything.
Please consider a donation to help offset medical costs and lost work and allow the Goette's to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Andrew is a hard working plumber and Ashley a dedicated paraprofessional for elementary school aged children with disabilities...they are not of extravagant means and anything will help!
Thank you all again for the amazing support! Team Goette