I wanted to take the time to explain to my client’s in a whole what has been going on the last 6 weeks in my life. I am also going to be blogging a whole lot more for Stephanie Strydom Photography & my personal life so this will be my platform to update.

Some of you may know, my husband Paul & I were expecting twins. One boy, One girl. Cohen and Charlotte.

On October 3, 2017, I went to my MFM (maternal fetal medicine) appointment for a routine checkup on the babies. Cohen was “Baby A” so the tech was checking him out & we were making small talk, everything was great. She went on to look at Charlotte, “Baby B” & things got quiet. I could see by her expression that something was wrong, I just didn’t know what. She left the room saying something about going to view a previous ultra sound & then my doctor appeared.

 

 

He took a look at our Charlotte & said “I am so sorry Stephanie.”

Charlotte had no heartbeat at 33 week 4 days.

In February 2016, we lost our son, Caleb at 32 weeks, also stillborn. Both times in that same room. I hadn’t felt him move so my doctor’s office sent me right to Holy Family Hospital to get checked out and that’s when I met our nurse, Linda. She tried to get Caleb’s heart rate on the monitors, but was having no luck. She walked me down to the ultra sound room & held my hand while the tech informed us that Caleb didn’t have a heart beat. She stayed with us through delivery and well past her scheduled shift. I don’t know how she does what she does, but I am so thankful.

I was living this nightmare all over again. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this could happen again. I immediately asked my doctor to see if Linda was on the floor. Within minutes she appeared, hugging me. She sat with me until Paul arrived. We were discussing whether we were going to stay at Holy Family or be transferred to Boston to deliver. As much as I wanted to deliver with my doctor & Linda in Methuen, it was safer for Cohen to be in Boston. Linda administered the first steroid for Cohen’s lungs and we were off to Boston. We arrived in Boston & met with teams upon teams of people at Bringham & Women’s Hospital. The plan was to receive two doses of steroids for Cohen, 24 hours apart from each other. After 48 hours from the first steroid, we could deliver.

On October 5, we were starting the induction. That morning I texted Linda to tell her we were starting.  She texted me back: “Would it be ok if I came to be with you? I am trying to make arrangements?” I couldn’t even believe it.

Linda arrived around 1pm, it wasn’t long after that I was fully dilated.

At 2:43, I delivered Cohen & shortly after Charlotte. We spent a few hours with our girl. We took some photos and were even able to bring her to the NICU to take a photo of our girl with twin brother. (Cue the tears.)

 

 

 

 

Cohen spent 5 days at Bringham & Women’s. 4 out of the 5 days he was cared for by a wonderful nurse, Judy.

She was incredible. She had also lost a baby and you could just see the empathy and compassion in her eyes. She literally held me when our 3 year old Lucas came in the room and asked where Charlotte was. I am so thankful we had someone so kind & supportive watching our baby.

Cohen was intubated for the first two days, after the tube was removed he was placed on CPAP and finally stable enough for me to hold my boy. SO many ugly tears.

Once he was off the CPAP & was breathing room air, we were able to transfer him to Holy Family where he spent the next 29 days learning how to eat.

 

At 34 days old on November 8th, Cohen was finally discharged. We’ve been home just short of a week & we are so happy to be starting “our normal.”

 

I want to thank all of our friends and family for being so supportive (again). We literally couldn’t get through this without all of your love.

I want to thank my clients that have been patiently waiting for their images. I promise I will be busting butt over the next few weeks to get them all out to you. I will be booking again, starting in December. I want to give myself some time to catch up before taking on anything additionally.

Main photo (of Lucas & Cohen) by: Elyse Carpenter Photography LLC

Charlotte’s Obituary 

Vote for Linda : Merrimack Valley Credit Union’s Biggest Heart: Caregiver