This is our story....This is my favorite charity. When our little girl Alyssa Pointer was born. She was literally brought into this world dying. I had her via C-section on March 13, 2013. The very day she was born she could not nurse, or eat formula. She would automatically projectile vomit literally across a 6 or 7 foot span. But we were discharged and sent home with her any way the nurse stating this sometimes happens I already had children and I had never seen such a thing. Over the next 2 months were a nightmare. Alyssa had literally stopped breathing 100s of times. I went to nursing school so I had learned child/infant CPR so at least 15 times a day I was performing cpr on her. Thomas and Brittanie also had to learn cpr. Eventually, after taking Alyssa to her pediatrician numerous time and being told to just give her rice cereal in her formula or taking her to the ER at Helen Ellis. The hospitals finally started to believe we were hurting our child and this is why she was dying. One evening I had made dinner a HAM that I had jut bought that day and after dinner Alyssa who was still just a tiny 2 month old infant again became deathly ill. We hurried and cleaned up the table and put things away. left the dishes and I was performing CPR as my husband drove to Helen Ellis and Brittanie was stressing telling him to hurry and helping him watch for traffic. once we got to the Hospital I ran into the ER screaming MY BABY ISNT BREATHING. A nurse ran out and grabbed her from my arms and my husband and I followed her into the ER. They took her into a room and made us stay in the hallway. Alyssa was dying. They could not find a vein in her body to give IV fluids. So with all lights off they used a black light to locate a vein in the top of her head and put in two ivs They care-flighted her to All Childrens Hospital in St. Pete Florida.. We were not allowed to go with her so we had to drive that hour + trip. Britt stayed with her grandparents while we went to St. Pete. When we got there Alyssa was already being seen. We were kept away from her. We didnt know it but the Ham I had made for dinner was bad. I didnt eat very much because I was so worried about my baby. But Thomas and Brittanie had eaten quite a bit so they both got really sick. It still tasted good so we had no idea it was tainted. Thomas started getting badly ill. He was throwing up violently and dehydrated. They realized he had food poisoning but I was not sick. I was too worried about my little one. My food poisoning didnt set in until much later when we were finally able to see her and she was in the PICU. We were supervised by nurses at all times, and were never allowed to be alone with Alyssa ever. Thomas and I were directed to go register at the Ronald McDonald House 4 blocks away and it was 2:30 am. We had to walk those 4 blocks and by that time I was starting to feel the ache of the food poisoning. Thomas was miserable he was a billion times worse than I was by far. I helped him go the 4 blocks and when we walked in we were treated with such love and respect. We were cared for like we were the only family on earth with a dying infant. The RMH was so warm, clean, homey and inviting. IT was like a giant 5 star Hotel only like a bed & breakfast. They saved the tour for the next day since we were in such bad shape. They gave Thomas and I two large bottles of Gatorade and Ibuprofen for he aches. Thomas couldnt drink anything he just kept getting sick. I was able to drink the entire bottle and take the meds and I was find the next day. Thomas was sick for 2 more days. We were not allowed to visit Alyssa at the hospital I was turned away every day that I went and so I stayed with Thomas taking care of him. Finally, I was able to pour the liquids into him and the meds and get him into a shower after that he was starting to feel a little better and able to eat some dry toast. Ronald McDonald house provided food, housing, laundry, phones, places to pray, counsel, whatever we needed. They were lovely to us. The hospital called us and told us we needed to get there ASAP and said we needed to say our goodbyes as Alyssa was not going to make it. We called our Families and my parents showed up and we loved her and held her as much as possible and I prayed with her in my arms to God that if he let her come home with me that I would love her no matter what the circumstance. The nurse again said we had to leave. RMH again prayed with us and counseled us giving us whatever love and support we needed. The next day we got a call from All Childrens and said we needed to PLEASE come to the hospital the doctors would like to talk to us. They were much nicer for some reason and it scared us. RMH, drove us over and held our hands and wished us Gods love and luck. Thomas, Brittanie and I walked in and the same nurses that treated us like we were assailants just days before and doctors that would not allow us to see our children, were now smiling. My baby was completely gray and I cried I said Oh my God what happened to my baby? The nurse looked into my eyes and said She had one of those Episodes you told us about, we believe you now she is getting the best treatment All Childrens offers. I wanted to punch her in the face. But, I know it was Gods work not hers nor the doctors. Our baby thrived after that and we were taught how to use a Apnea monitor because Alyssa still stopped breathing on occasion, she was put on a formula that cost over $50 a can and after 3 months she was released to come home from All Childrens. Ronald McDonald House never once believed we would hurt our baby, they treated us with such love and care. IN return they never asked for a penny for all they did for us. All they asked was that we did a chore everyday in the house/Hotel that we lived. for instance. we would have to clean up the reading room. or the play room. or dust the lounging area or TV room. Clean kitchens 2,3 & 4. easy simple 30 minute chores. They had an Easter sun rise service non denominational for everyone while we were there and a beautiful Easter egg hunt and meal for everyone. We left after that day and have never forgotten the love and kindness they have shown us. Every spare penny we ever had, has been sent their way. It may have not been much each time, but I have paid their kindness forward to others in need also. They will always be my Charity of choice to help and suggest others to help because of what they did for my family. They keep very little for themselves. Their Volunteers give freely of themselves to care for the families in need at the houses. I am very proud to say I have been a part of something this wonderful. The reason I had to be there was sad. But while I was there they made it all a little bit easier for us to handle.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 19:27:48 +0000