Baby Athena Blair

My two good friends Aaron Blair and Michelle Vincent had a baby girl on December 27, 2009.A few weeks earlier she was taken to the hospital in labor 12 weeks early. Michelle was put on bed rest until the baby was able to come out, the doctor told her she could come up to the white mountains for Christmas since her other 2 kids were with their dad and she had no family down in the valley. 2 days after Christmas she was again rushed to Banner Good Samaritan with contractions at 3-5 minutes apart and severe bleeding. As soon as they made it to the hospital they did the normal exam except for the fact she was bleeding/hemorrhaging that they could not check her cervix. A couple hours later they were finally able to get her to her ultrasound and during the trip down the hall she started having unbearable pain and pressure so they check her and she was 9 centimeters, they rush her back to labor and delivery just into for her to push. Michelle pushed Athena out and as soon as Athena, like not even a second later, her placenta came out. It looked like brown rotten hamburger meat, they were able to finally diagnose Michelle after the fact with Placental Abrupt ion, any longer and Athena and Michelle would of died. Athena weighed 3 pounds and 12 ounces, big for being 9 weeks early. Athena didn't show any problems until 5 day old. Her breathing was labored, her heart beat was sometimes dropping and elevated. Athena had a infection in her lower intestine that caused her to not be able to hold her blood platelet levels at the level they need so she had to have 5 blood platelet transfusions. Also, they didn't know why she wasn't able to keep the levels up so they did a spinal tap. The spinal tap was unsuccessful due to Athena being so little and there wasn't enough pressure on her spine to get any fluid. The doctors tried again a few days later and again were unsuccessful due to the same fact of just being so tiny. Thankfully the antibiotics started to work so she didn't need another one. Athena started doing really good and the doctors started planning her release when a few days before her release Athena started having breathing spells where she would stop and start again a few seconds later. It seemed to always happen every 2 to 3 days. The doctors started a method where she could go home in 5 days but every time she would stop breathing they would start the 5 days all over again. This breathing spell was called Acute Apnea. Athena was able to go home 3 weeks later when she was 7 weeks old and 4 pounds, she had to go home with Oxygen and a pulse oxcimeter and a sleep apnea machine to monitor her breathing. She has now been home for a month and weighs 10 pounds.


Athena Blair. 3pounds, 12ounces


Athena and Daddy

Athena and Aunt Kelli

Aunt Kelli, Uncle Brandon and Athena

Me, Michelle and Athena

Tony trying to get in the crib
to see Athena

Pretty in Pink


Sleeping Beauty