Warrior Princess Dominique Needs Your Help

Dominique Levi Stephanie Carls was born on the 06-03-2019 at 11:44 at Newcastle Provincial Hospital.

Everything seemed fine the morning going in for my c-section was so excited to meet our new bundle of joy. Little did we know that it would be the most horrific experience of my life. I felt every excruciating pain throughout my labor. To the very point the third doctor that came in to try get our baby out, finally managed to get her out after almost breaking my back or at least thats what it felt like when I screamed "oh my God, I can feel you on my spine". When I never heard my baby cry, I passed out. Woke up some time later to find out it was a girl, I was alive and so was she. Only to find out later she had to be resuscitated & soon after she had a seizure, so she was admitted to NICU and I only got to see my Angel the next day in the afternoon, through the tremendous pain I was in. Seeing her like that on that NICU bed broke me. I could barely hear the Doctor explain what happened and what could the outcome be etc. All I could think of was I wish I could take her place. We prayed so hard for a daughter and she is now suffering. 💔 She was given a drug called Phenobarb because she was diagnosed with Phypoxia and although it protects the brain from damage due to the seizures it also put her in a sedated state where she was unresponsive and always sleeping, she never opened her eyes, she just layed there almost lifeless. It tore me apart. But God Sent my aunt & cousin to me one day & they gave me a sense of peace, I accepted the situation we were in and I turned to God for his Grace and mercy to cover us. I grew stronger through Prayer. On the 12th of March my husband managed to get her on his medical aid & she was immediately transferred to Medi-Clinic Newcastle. A sigh of relief because we knew any tests that needed to be done would be sorted out on time. Dr Vilane was the pediatrician assigned to her care, I was overjoyed as I know his one of the best in Newcastle. He explained her condition to us so we understood exactly what was going on with her and the necessary steps he will be taking to help her. Together with the amazing staff of Medi-Clinic NICU Dr Vilane, worked wonders on Dominique, he took her off the Phenobarb and every other drug she was on. She opened her eyes, she became responsive. On the 13th of March she had her MRI done but because she was moving too much she had to redo it on the 14th which was a success. Her results were normal there was no damage to her brain, the EEG that was done also gave a positive result. Our baby was fine, she was healed. Even though she was still on the oxygen as a support, she was so much better. Because her lungs are functioning properly. They slowly weened her off the oxygen. She had her first successful night off the oxygen on Thursday the 21st, Friday the 22nd I got to board in the hospital going to breastfeed her every three hours. Saturday the 23rd she was given to me to sleep by my room in the hospital, we had a successful night she maintained her stats. And on Sunday the 24th we were discharged from hospital. Finally we were bringing our baby home. We had a great first night at home❤️ and so looking forward to many more amazing days, weeks, months, years with our Miracle baby. Dominique was subsequently discharged from nicu Medi-Clinic on the 24th of March, but was readmitted with pneumonia on the 6th of April. Whilst in hospital a murmur was detected. The diagnosis of a congenital heart defect was suspected and she was referred for an assessment. Whilst in hospital she was noted to be mildly desaturated and oxygen was required to maintain saturation >90%.

Dominique was transferred to Netcare Sunninghill Hospital for assessment by Dr R. Dansky. Where his results showed that she has a peculiar complex congenital heart defect with common atrium and common AV valve, a single probable LV but with anterior aorta and posterior PA filling via a restrictive bulbo-ventricular foramen. She was admitted to Sunninghill Hospital for probable PA banding. And is almost certainly a candidate for a Fontan procedure at a later stage.

Dominique underwent PA banding at the Sunninghill Hospital on the 15th of April.

A tight banding of the PA was performed. No other significant post-operative complications occurred. The surgery was a success and she was discharged on the 23rd of April. With a review to be done on the 24th of May.

As with all medical procedures they come at a cost. Although We are grateful that majority of the costs incurred were covered by the medical aid. But there is an significant amount we have to pay ourselves. Plus her follow up will cost us personally as well as the medical aid has informed us that we have reached our annual limit for benefit.

We pleading with the community as a whole, family, extended family, friends, friends of friends, strangers anybody to please aid us with a donation. No amount is too small and anything given is greatly appreciated. Please search deep within your hearts to help us, it's all for Dominique. Thank you in advance & God bless you.