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MY STORY...Dedicated to Heavyn Katrice (B/D May 11, 2007) whom I had to say goodbye to before I could say hello.

On May 7th 2007, I was having a normal pregnancy. I was 22 weeks and having a little girl my husband and I were very happy, she was going to be my last baby because we have two boys together. We had her name picked out (Alana Katrice) and my husband was going to purchase the crib, stroller and car seat at the end of the week.

May 8th 2007, I was at work and around 11am I went to the restroom, when I looked down I noticed a very small amount of blood in my underwear. I wasn't too concerned, but I did call my doctor and told him about it, so he told me to come to the office at lunch and he'll check it out. When I got to the office, I was seen by the doctor, and he checked my cervix, the first thing out of his mouth was OMG...you'll fully dialated. He told me to go to L&D right a way, and no where else. I wasn't fully aware of what was going on when I got to the hospital, and I was placed on strict bedrest. I remained in the bed for a couple of days with my head lowered to keep the baby from putting pressure on cervix, and my doctor told me to terminate the pregnancy because her chances of survival was none, because the hospital wasn't capable of handling a very premature baby. I refused to end my pregnancy and was determined to hold on to my little girl until I was 24 weeks and was able to be transferred to hospital with a level III nursey (they can handle very premature babies).

May 10th 2007 a hospital in Jacksonville was willing to take over my care and try to save my baby, but my water breaks before the helicoper can pick me up, and I knew things was going to go down hill fast, because I couldn't be transported once my water broke and to make it worst my cervix closed preventing me from delivery naturally. Later that evening I started having painful contractions.

May 11th 2007, after hours of painful contraction I was given medication to calm the contractions and my I was so worn out I felt I was going to die that day. I asked my OB to preform a C-section, and he did. The surgery was suppose to take 45 minutes, but I was in surgery for 4 hours. My OB had problems delivering my baby and I became septic and all my major organs were shutting down. When I woke up from the surgery the next day I was in the ICU , and didn't remember why I was in the hospital. I didn't know how bad my situation was unitl my sister told me later, that the hospital staff informed her and my husband may have to think about final arrangements for both me and my daughter.

May 13 Mother's Day...they bought my daughter to ICU, she was beautiful with a head full of hair, and very long eyelashes (We renamed her Heavyn Katrice). After only a few minutes of holding her I cried, and started to hyperventilate which cause the machines to alert the nurses. My husband took her back and gave her back to the nurse, and that was the last time I saw her.

May 25th 2007 I was finally able to leave the hospital, but I left empty handed.

MY MESSAGE TO ALL EXPECTANT MOTHERS...

***Incompetent cervix can happen to anyone whether you are a first time mother or not.

***There are very little warnings and once you have an IC you'll always have an IC.

***IC happens in the second trimester and it normally diagnosed after your loss.

***Make sure the hospitals you are given birth at have a level III nursery if you think you are going to deliver before 35 weeks (do your research).

***Most other hospital won't do any life saving precedures on your baby if you are less than 24 weeks.

***If you have any minor pains or contractions in the second trimester, go to the hospital ASAP have them check your cervix..

***Talk to your doctor about any concerns about IC before it happens.