The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Only six months into his precious life, baby Dexter Green has been through more than most could imagine in two lifetimes. Dexter, the son of former Flin Flonner Amy Green (nee Switzer), was born last September with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). This rare type of hernia, occurring in one in every 2,500 births, has had Dexter undergo surgeries and countless procedures to help improve his health. Amy, who now lives in Medicine Hat, Alta., had no idea the struggles her son would, and will continue to, face. 'There is a 70 per cent survival rate,' she said. Dexter's health problems came unexpectedly as an ultrasound at the 18-week point of Amy's pregnancy indicated no problems. 'We didn't know he was going to be born with CDH,' she said. As Dexter grew in the womb, he and his organs continued to develop, 'which is a good thing,' said his mother. But the day after Dexter, her second child, was born, she was told he had CDH. Neither Green nor her husband Derek knew much about the condition, but would quickly learn. The name of the condition was not completely unfamiliar, however, as Amy's sister lost her son to CDH in 2007. 'That's all I knew about it,' she said. A congenital diaphragmatic hernia happens when the diaphragm has a hole in it, because it hasn't formed properly in the uterus, according to Baby Centre Canada. A hole in the diaphragm means the organs in the tummy can push through the muscle, squashing the lungs and preventing the lungs from developing properly. Amy says Dexter didn't have a hole in his diaphragm; rather, the tissue was too thin. 'It was scary and we didn't know until the day after he was born,' she said. See 'Start' on pg. s the start of a long struggle for both Dexter and his family. He was flown to see specialists in Calgary's Alberta Children's Hospital just one day after he was welcomed to the world. 'We were scared and overwhelmed,' said Amy. 'We didn't know what the future held.' After seeing doctors in Calgary, Amy and Derek were left feeling better about their youngest child's condition. 'Everything looked good for him,' said Amy, who originally left Flin Flon in 2001. Dexter then underwent his first surgery. 'They figured we would be in (Calgary) for six to eight weeks,' said Amy. Once Dexter was strong enough, he was to be transferred back to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. The plan didn't go as hoped. Dexter spent more than three months of his life in the hospital before going home. 'One hundred and nine days before he could come home for the first time,' said Amy. Dexter continued to get sick and was sent back to the hospital after less than a week at home. 'We learned how to (do) everything (for) when we were at home,' said Amy, determined to help her child any way she could. 'I just felt I could deal with it at home,' she said. 'It was easier with two kids. 'The nurses were doing everything I could do, from home.' But back in Medicine Hat, Amy says Dexter's condition began to worsen. 'Our doctor in Medicine Hat has been a wonderful advocate for Dexter,' she said. 'He called Calgary and said, 'We need to do something for this little guy.'' For another 10 days Dexter was in the hospital. From there, he was sent to Calgary. In October, Dexter was given a nasogastric (NG) tube, which was later changed to a gastrojejunal (GJ) tube, through his stomach and intestines for feeding. He has never been able to be fed orally. Dexter had complications with the NG tube and was constantly vomiting. 'Our hope was with the GJ tube it would stop. It had stopped for about two weeks so we thought everything ws finally fixed,' said Amy. 'However, two weeks after the GJ tube was placed, he started puking bile and stomach secretions.' Still sick As of Wednesday, Dexter had been sick for 31 straight days after the GJ tube procedure. Since back home from Calgary, the six-month old had caught pneumonia and had a collapsed lung. 'He's in a lot of pain and his medicines aren't working,' Amy said. Dexter is on the highest dose of medication he can be at this time, but Amy says it's just not working. This week, Amy and Derek are sitting by the phone waiting to hear from doctors in Calgary. 'They never expected to have so many issues with Dexter,' she said. Her son's gastroenterology doctor as well as his CDH doctor are stumped. Countless x-rays, blood work and other procedures Dexter has had done indicate he's fine aside from CDH. Medical records from Medicine Hat are currently being sent to Calgary to be looked at. From there, the Greens are hoping to take Dexter to the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto. 'We're pushing for Toronto,' said Amy. 'It will be a fresh pair of eyes.' The Hospital for Sick Kids is a bigger facility, one the Greens hope can provide the answers they need. 'Calgary is amazing. We love it there, but a fresh pair of eyes can't hurt _ especially if they are stumped,' said Amy. Making Ends Meet With Dexter being in and out of hospitals, Amy is with him, though her maternity leave is ending soon due to other complications during her pregnancy. Derek took nearly four and a half months off work from the service rigs to help with their two-year-old daughter, Bayleigh. '(Dexter) was in the hospital for so long,' Amy said, trailing off. The family was grateful to have family members and friends visit and help with their daughter so they could be at the hospital. 'It was really stressful,' she said of Derek took time off work. 'This was their busiest time of year.' In the summer of 2012, Amy, Derek and Bayleigh moved to Medicine Hat from Saskatoon. That took them away from their family support system in Saskatoon, and further away from Flin Flon. 'If we would have known his condition, we would have stayed,' said Amy. Derek and Amy have spent months in Calgary and making the three-hour drive from their home to the hospital. When possible, the family has stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Calgary. 'It's $12 a night and right across the street from the hospital. It's wonderful,' she said. But as the Greens are not the only family in need of medical services, Ronald McDonald House is sometimes full. At those times, the family stays in a hotel _ with a room discount through the Ronald McDonald House. Amy, Derek and Bayleigh spend roughly $200 for a hotel for the two-day appointments Dexter needs quite often, and money on gas and food as well. When Dexter has surgery, the family spends a few weeks away from their home. In an effort to help the Greens' financial situation a FundRazr campaign was started online by a family friend. The 'Help Baby Dexter Green & his family fight CDH!' campaign flooded friends' and families' Facebook pages to spread the word. See 'Blessed' on pg. 10 The campaign started on Monday and had raised $5,305 from 59 people as of Wednesday afternoon. '...we're so blessed that people are helping us. Strangers are helping us so my husband can be with us,' said Amy. Knowing they have a trip to either Calgary or Toronto in the near future, Amy is overwhelmed with the generosity. 'Words can't even explain how grateful we are. It's just amazing,' she said. A trip to Toronto, as with Calgary, will cost the family out-of-pocket expenses on travel, accommodations and food. 'It's hard. We're always wondering what's going on,' said Amy. 'Your little baby is crying in pain and there is nothing you can do. It just breaks your heart.' Down the road The Greens are hoping for the best-case scenario with a trip to Toronto that will help Dexter. 'Unfortunately it's the waiting game,' she said Wednesday. The family hopes to hear by the end of the week what their next step is. '...I pray to God that we get the answers we need and for Dexter to get the treatment he needs to live a healthy life,' said Amy. 'Having a child with health issues is very stressful on all aspects of one's life _ emotionally, financially, spiritually and the relationship you have with your husband and other key people in your life.' Even though she is just two years old, Amy and Derek's daughter Bayleigh understands that her brother is sick. 'She gets it,' Amy said, as Bayleigh played in the background on the other end of the phone. '...when we got to Calgary we drove up to the hospital she had tears and said 'bye.' 'That hurts. She knows she wants her mom and she doesn't want me gone all the time in the hospital.' The Greens continue to do what they can each day for Dexter. Though he has spent his life in and out of hospitals and undergoing procedures and appointments, Amy says he is one happy baby. 'In six months he's been through a lot,' she said, as Dexter turned half a year on March 25. 'He's such a happy baby other than when he's puking and in pain. 'The doctors and nurses are surprised at how good he is.' To help the Greens, visit www.fundrazr.com and select the Find icon at the top of the page. From there, type 'Dexter Green' into the search bar. Donations can be made via Pay-Pal or VISA.
