Macie's Story

Macie was born via emergency C-section at 32 weeks’ gestation due to loss of fetal heart tones on the monitor. During pregnancy, I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 27 weeks and placed on complete bed rest. I was swollen in my hands, face, and feet, which is a common symptom of preeclampsia. I was also told that I had an anterior placenta, which meant that it would be a bit more challenging to feel Macie’s movements because of where the placenta was attached.

At my 32-week prenatal check-up, I mentioned that I was concerned because I had not truly felt Macie’s movements in two days. I asked if my doctor would take a look to make sure everything was okay. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know, and shortly after, I was sent over to the emergency room to be monitored more closely because the doctor mentioned she was having a difficult time picking up Macie’s heartbeat. She reassured me that there was, in fact, a heartbeat; it was just very faint, and she wanted to be safe rather than sorry.

I could not have been admitted in the triage room for more than 10 minutes before a swarm of doctors were filling my room, placing a hair cap on my head, and rolling me down to the operating room. On the way down, they explained that Macie appeared to be in distress and they needed to get her out immediately. I went completely numb. This was not how I had planned my birthing experience would go, and at this point, it was becoming a scary reality that I had carried my baby in my belly for 32 weeks, and I may be leaving the hospital as a bereaved parent.

I was awake during my C-section, which seemed to have only lasted a few seconds, but that was likely the medication talking. I remember a pulling and tugging sensation for a few seconds, and then suddenly all I could focus on were the many voices shouting, “No heartbeat, start compressions.” This continued for 25 long minutes as I lay helpless on the table, being tended to myself. A neonatologist approached me with terror-filled eyes and quietly said, “I am so sorry, but I don’t think she’s going to make it.”

After 25 minutes of crashing and resuscitation, my sweet, nearly lifeless 3-pound baby was transported to a different hospital, and I was placed in a room on the upper level of the birthing unit to recover. We spent the next 4 days apart, not knowing if either one of us would survive. Finally, my discharge papers arrived, and I was able to unite with my baby in the NICU, where we learned that she had suffered from severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and if she survived, she would likely face profound physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Macie fought for 2 months in the NICU, and on June 10, 2022, we went home with a feeding tube, and every therapy known to man was scheduled. We felt terrified for all of the unknowns of our future, and each day, we lived like it were our last.

The Macie Jo Foundation was born on December 17, 2023. The Foundation exists to ensure that no family has to endure the level of pain, challenges, and uncertainty that we felt when Macie was born. We are here to walk with families through every step of their HIE journey, from hospital to home and beyond, and we are so grateful for the trust, love, hope, and community we have found as a result of this Foundation.