Sullivan Hunter Spay

Hello Family and Friends,

I first want to announce the birth of Sullivan Hunter Spay, born early Sunday, July 11th of 2010 @ 3:42 am. He weighs 9 lbs. 5 oz. with dark hair and beautiful light infant eyes. He was welcomed immediately into his loving mother's arms (Stephanie Spay) as his father (Casey Spay) cut the cord still connecting him to his prior fetal life. He also has a big brother, Leo (3), who is still awaiting to meet his baby brother.

I am his Aunt Angie who was blessed enough to be invited to be present during Sullivan's delivery (thank you Steph and Casey for including me on this once in a life time I will never forget). I was blessed to watch as my sister made her way through a natural delivery. I was blessed to see my brother-in-law's aw of the miracle of woman and the miracle of new life. And I was blessed to be there when Stephanie and Casey received the life altering news that their perfect baby boy is in fact not perfect. . .

Sully has a cardiac defect called Transposition of the Great Vessels. There is a link at the side that will connect you questions and answers and wonderful diagrams. Very simply put . . . we all have two major arteries in our heart. One carries oxygenated blood to the body and one brings the un-oxygenated blood back to the heart. Sullivan's arteries are reversed. So his sweet little body is not receiving enough oxygenated blood. On Sunday, the day of his birth, Sullivan underwent a heart cath. procedure (Septostomy) to open a passage between his atria. This will allow the two bloods to mix (the oxygenated and un-oxygenated). He made it through wonderfully and is peacefully resting with his parents at his side. He presently is int-abated to get him optimal oxygen and is being giving medication to keep his heart strong and healthy at it's time of need. The procedure he has undergone is a temporary fix. We are all hoping and praying that this will get him the oxygen he needs to soon be able to eat a few meals and breath without inta-bation. As I understand it, this is a goal of the Cardiologists prior to doing an open heart surgery on him at the end of this week. (Date is yet to be determined)

Stephanie and Casey are "hanging in there", but as you can imagine . . . there are no words to describe the heart ache and overwhelming emotions they are experiencing. I have set up this blog site to keep all of Stephanie and Casey's loved ones as informed and close to them as possible. Because they are overcome with emotions and are unable to reach out to all of you, I am going to make every effort to be their messenger. (I must warn you there will be many grammar and spelling mishaps.)

I have received an out pouring of offers to bring food and offer childcare. If you would like to be included on a list to do a meal rotation please let me know. I plan on organizing this by the end of the week. Sullivan will be in the hospital for at least 2 weeks after his surgery and then of course when he comes home meals will also be needed. I also thought gift cards may be helpful. There is a Qudoba, Suddenly Salad, and Noodles & Co. that I noticed on the IUPUI campus. But of course, most of all we need prayers.

I want to thank all of you and especially the AMAZING staff at Community North Hospital (Dr. Beckwith, Dr. Wagner, Dr. Stuhldreher, Sullivan's Neonataologist, Nurse Tracy, Nurse Elizabeth, all of the amazing women who helped Steph deliver on that skinny stretcher in the triage room, and a special thanks from me to Donetta . . . you have many sets of wings my sweet angel)

On a side note to anyone who has or know someone who has had a similar situation, I would love to have Stephanie and Casey hear the uplifting success stories. And I know that Steph is working very hard to be able to nurse her Sullivan when he is healthy and at home . . . so please if you know of anyone who could offer her words of support and strength, I know she needs this.

Thank you again and love to all of you.
It takes a village,
Aunt Angie