Tyler-365 days later…
In Pregnant Issue 13, we featured Mary Mackenzie whose son Tyler inhaled his first stool (meconium) during delivery. One year later, as Mary celebrated her son’s first birthday, her happiness knowing no bounds. Tyler, all grown and healthy is her source of pride, her miracle.
She shares his first year’s events with Elizabeth Ombati.
In the hospital
Going home without my baby was traumatising—to say the least. Tyler had to be taken to Intensive Care Unit to have the ingested harmful substances sucked out and be given medical attention to stabilize his threatening health.
Every 6 am to midnight, I would be by my peaceful yet helpless son’s side, praying that he would not lose the fight to live. Then on the morning of 14 February 2008, a nurse came running and told me that the meconium had finally cleared from Tyler’s system. To say I was happy is a big understatement. It was the best news ever!
The rest of the days in hospital were lighter, knowing that the major danger had been done away with. He was discharged on the 27th of February 2008, twenty days after his delivery.
Raising Tyler
This has not been a difficult experience. It saw me return to work after the normal two-months leave. He breastfed easily in the first days and slept soundly in the nights. He refused to breastfeed at four months though, much as I tried to persuade him. This forced me to express milk which he would feed on from the bottle.
I am very cautious of his health so we make frequent visits to the paediatrician. A few days into his first birthday he weighed 13.8kgs. A healthy, big boy.
When boys are boys
Boys are determined to break the rules most times. I agree.
I have had to be extra careful he does not break his neck in the process! He put my heart in my mouth when he recently fell off his cot to the floor! I rarely call home but on that day my intuition told me something was wrong. My motherly instincts were confirmed when my house-girl’s shaken voice told me about Tyler’s fall. She had just bathed him and as she was pouring the used water, his curious little hand tried to reach for something that was nearby but unfortunately he came scuttling down. Thank God he was not hurt.
Teething
My dear Tyler became sick. Considering he rarely fell sick, this got me really worried and the hospital became the next stop. His temperature was reading plus forty! But the medicine he was given did wonders for he was back to his almost original self in no time.
House girl
She is a very pleasant girl. She has been with Tyler since he was born and they have developed a very strong bond. She has a child of her own. I guess that is why it’s easy for her to care for Tyler the way she does.
During my maternity leave, I studied her and noted her genuine and selfless personality which makes me treat her like family.
Being a mom
The sound of Tyler saying MAMA when I get home washes down all the fatigue and troubles of the day. To see my flesh and blood, to teach him, talk to him, massage him and all gives me untold satisfaction.
Tyler is an obedient boy who is also cheeky. Whenever he is told not to do something, he will ‘piously’ stop it. But no sooner have you turned your back than he goes back on the forbidden. Well. I guess he is just a boy, and I am letting him be one—with a watchful eye though.
Future
I intend to take him to a day-care centre next year so that he can learn to bond with his fellow young company early. In the meantime, I cannot wait for him to get to 13!
Appreciation
Looking back at where this started, I realize there is a lot of strength in each of us. And when we combine it with the support of family and friends, then there is no burden that is too heavy to carry.
END: BL21/61