Baby Andrew Updates

Friday: by George

By now many of you know that Dan and Nicole Hoftyzer had an emergency c-section late last Saturday night. Baby Andrew was born with oxygen deprivation and was immediately put on life-support systems. Yesterday the initial reports of his MRI and other testing began to come in. The news has not been good. By all medical indications Andrew has severe brain damage. (You can read more details in the posts from Nicole's page.)

Sunday night: by Dan and Nicole

This is Dan writing (and Nicole editing!): Nicole and I met with a brain doctor Saturday evening at 8:00pm who was able to confirm with us much of the information we have been hearing and discussing since Thursday. He was able to show us the actual MRI results on a screen, and explain how the bright areas indicated damage. There are a lot of bright areas, primarily at the back of the brain, but also all along the cerebrum, and in the centre information relay centre as well.

He also expounded on the likely future Andrew would face. He said he was not certain, but the likely future was based on his extensive experience with other children with brain damage. He talked about the likelihood of very limited vision, a lack of ability to communicate in any way, a gradual change towards rigid muscles (similar to cerebral palsy), no ability to feed oneself with the possibility of needing a feeding tube, and other such information.

We told them of our wishes to look into organ donation if Andrew dies, which we now know is more complicated than I had originally thought. A resident doctor started the inquiry process, but also told us that he had never heard of a NICU baby having organs donated (neither had the nurse who was sitting with us, who has 20+ years experience).

We were able to sit with our Pastor George through this, and speak with him afterwards. He gave us some clarity on how we as parents should proceed through this traumatic situation. Thank you George.

Sunday morning we were surrounded with friends who loved us and repeated over and over that they were praying for us, and that if we needed anything, just call and they would be available instantly. Please know this: the prayers and support of our family and friends are carrying us through this. We feel the love of God through you.

After church, we asked the hospital if we could meet with another doctor, a head of the neo-natal unit at Victoria Hospital. We met at 4:00pm, along with our ‘support group’ of my (Dan) parents and sister. Dr. Han is an incredible doctor, with a gift of comforting people making difficult decisions. He helped us through the decision process of how to keep Andrew comfortable once we remove life support. He also told us that over the past week Andrew’s body has grown stronger and his organs have healed, even though his brain cannot regenerate. Because of this, Dr. Han emphasized that Andrew may live for days, weeks, months or years.

We also met with a representative from the Trillium Gift of Life Network – the organ and tissue donation organization. She has had a steep learning curve over the past day. We are told that this is the first time in Canada a newborn baby in this condition (brain damage due to oxygen deprivation) will be evaluated for organ donation. She was as emotional as Nicole and I as we discussed the process and the options. She said even if we cannot use the organs (due to poor organ condition or lack of viable organ recipients), we can use tissue (heart valves, etc). Even if no donation takes place, she said that the research and contacts made this weekend opens a new chapter in medical history. Regardless of the outcome, Andrew will do incredible things in his lifetime.

The outcome is this: it will take at a minimum until Monday afternoon for the organ donation team to complete their evaluation and analysis and have a team in place on site at Victoria Hospital. Once the team is in place, the NICU will remove Andrew’s life support. If he passes within two hours, his organs may be donated. If he lives beyond two hours, but eventually passes, his tissue can be donated. He will be kept comfortable during his life, for as long or short as it may be. Is that not what we all want for our children? To have dignity in life, for as long as they are on this earth?

This is a long post. I have tried to keep it simple and to the point as possible, but I feel I must add one more thing. While the story is not finished, we believe it is in God’s hands now. We have carried the burden for as long as God asked us to, and now He has said, “It is time to let go. It is now My time to carry your burden”, and we are at peace. We now feel free to enjoy Andrew while he is here, and understand that one day we will see Andrew in heaven fully restored with God for eternity.