I was 28 weeks pregnant when I went for a routine checkup with my OB. While at that appointment I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and sent over to Doctor’s Hospital for monitoring. After 7 hours of monitoring they let myself and my husband know that I would be admitted and staying in the hospital until I delivered our baby girl. They were hoping to get me to 34 weeks, but there were no guarantees. After one week and what felt like a thousand of tests later, my doctor came into my room and told me that it was time. There was nothing left they could do to help me besides delivering her. So one emergency c-section later, I heard my 2 lb. 5 oz. daughter cry her first cry Earthside. Of course, she was immediately rushed to the on-sight NICU where they begun running test upon test, but she was not being aided with breathing, which was a good sign. At first they told us she was pretty boring, no major problems. But then, a week and a half later they discovered her Grade 3 brain bleed and that she was starting to have severe fluid build up. My world stopped at that moment. A few days later the staff at Doctor’s NICU called us to tell us Larkyn was being transferred to Nationwide because her condition had advanced past their abilities. We arrived at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and we immediately felt the weight lift off of our shoulders. They explained everything, they included us in everything, and they were so reassuring. While still in C4B we were introduced to Dr. Lance Governale from neurosurgery. He told us every little detail about her condition and how they would be treating her. From the moment we met him, we worshiped the ground he walked on. We were soon transferred to C4C, but a week after arriving at NCH Larkyn had her shunt placement surgery. After her surgery we had our setbacks; from eating difficulties to weight gain struggles and they were having to tap the fluid from her shunt every few days. The entire NICU staff was amazing, helpful, and very supportive. The nurses and the lactation team became like family to us. Larkyn was in the NICU for 67 days and none of them were easy; but with the support and help of so many members of the staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital we made it through. We brought our baby home and so far she is still doing great. We still go back to see the neonatologists and the neuro clinic, but we enjoy every visit and are so thankful for everyone there.

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• Name: Larkyn H.Larkyn Hopsecker
• Condition(s): Hydrocephalus, Prematurity
• Age at Treatment: 15 days
• Age Today: 11/09/20158 Years

I was 28 weeks pregnant when I went for a routine checkup with my OB. While at that appointment I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and sent over to Doctor’s Hospital for monitoring. After 7 hours of monitoring they let myself and my husband know that I would be admitted and staying in the hospital until I delivered our baby girl. They were hoping to get me to 34 weeks, but there were no guarantees. After one week and what felt like a thousand of tests later, my doctor came into my room and told me that it was time. There was nothing left they could do to help me besides delivering her. So one emergency c-section later, I heard my 2 lb. 5 oz. daughter cry her first cry Earthside. Of course, she was immediately rushed to the on-sight NICU where they begun running test upon test, but she was not being aided with breathing, which was a good sign. At first they told us she was pretty boring, no major problems. But then, a week and a half later they discovered her Grade 3 brain bleed and that she was starting to have severe fluid build up. My world stopped at that moment. A few days later the staff at Doctor’s NICU called us to tell us Larkyn was being transferred to Nationwide because her condition had advanced past their abilities. We arrived at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and we immediately felt the weight lift off of our shoulders. They explained everything, they included us in everything, and they were so reassuring. While still in C4B we were introduced to Dr. Lance Governale from neurosurgery. He told us every little detail about her condition and how they would be treating her. From the moment we met him, we worshiped the ground he walked on. We were soon transferred to C4C, but a week after arriving at NCH Larkyn had her shunt placement surgery. After her surgery we had our setbacks; from eating difficulties to weight gain struggles and they were having to tap the fluid from her shunt every few days. The entire NICU staff was amazing, helpful, and very supportive. The nurses and the lactation team became like family to us. Larkyn was in the NICU for 67 days and none of them were easy; but with the support and help of so many members of the staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital we made it through. We brought our baby home and so far she is still doing great. We still go back to see the neonatologists and the neuro clinic, but we enjoy every visit and are so thankful for everyone there.