Welcome Friends!
Jerrica S.
Birthdate - May 30, 2008
Main Diagnosis - Unknown mitochondrial anomaly, respiratory failure
THEME: Pink & Purple
Biography
Jerrica was born in May of 2008. She had no swallow reflex and was
in the NICU for several months. She got her gtube (to feed into her belly) when
she was 1 week old. She went home with her biological parents for 2 months
during which time she was admitted twice for having trouble breathing. In
November of 2008 she was admitted again and put on a ventilator. Her parents
decided to agree to have a tracheostomy placed. Her trach was placed in
November of 2008 and her parents left the hospital and did not come back. In
January of 2009 (when she was 8 months old) my husband and I took custody of
Jerrica (I had been her nurse at the hospital) and she came home with us in
February of 2009.
Since then she has had 50+ admissions for asthma and surgeries. She is on a
ventilator 24 hours a day. She has a presumed unknown mitochondrial anomaly.
She is mentally a normal 2 1/2 year old. She does not speak but signs over 75
signs to communicate. She has been placed in Hospice care because her asthma is
so bad there is no further treatment. She is hypotonic and unable to crawl or
walk. Her hearing is limited by a neuroprocessing disorder, but she always
hears music and so it is a huge part of our lives.
Jerrica is not our birth child, but she is definately ours in our hearts and
minds. We love her very much!
