Alexandra Paige La Velle

Alexandra was Born 09/02/1992

When she was born, We were expecting a normal healthy baby girl. When it was close to the time of arrival doctor noticed the baby was in distress so he scheduled an emergency c-section.

She was born unable to breath on her own so they did an emergency resuscitation. Doctors noticed abnormal weakness, and decided to transfer her from Kaiser Clackamas to what was known back then as Bess Kaiser. She was admitted to the Neonatal Care Unit and given life support, while the doctor tried to figure out what was wrong. They got Alexandra stable and she was doing OK but supported by a Ventilation machine. There was a Nurse taking care of Alex and another baby for a while, passing the 35 hour mark exhaustion was taking its toll on Susie and I. We were relieved a new nurse came in to NICU to take care of Alex while the other nurse stayed with the other baby.

 

The new nurse however was very abrupt and not at all gentle with Alexandra. I mentioned to her nicely to please be gentle with her trying not to offend her and make things worse. As she seemed to get madder and continued to be rough with Alexandra, I quietly asked the other nurse that had been helping with Alexandra, Is this nurse ok? Is there something wrong with her? She didn't say anything just shook her head. I told Susie about this nurse and she said get another nurse. So I asked the Nice nurse to please call the charge Nurse, so she did and I remained calm and Spoke to the Charge nurse and she said there is nothing wrong and that she would not be replaced. So I thought about calling the Police or what else can we do? Also being up 36 hours I thought maybe I am wrong or just overly fatigued, so I asked the good nurse if she could keep an eye on questionable nurse for us. Upon awaking the the next day, The Jerry Lewis Telethon was on TV in our room, we watched it almost every year. Feeling somewhat refreshed after sleeping a guilty 7 hours I was cautiously optimistic Alexandra would show improvement. However, when I got to her crib, she was Black-purple with her heart rate down. The bad nurse was gone, the good nurse was still working her shift as they had long shifts, thinking. looking at my daughter thinking what I saw last night... what happened to the bad nurse? Why is she not working her long shift?.

 

Asking the good nurse to please bring in the doctor, she replied the Doctor has already been here, there is nothing that could be done. I went to Susie and told her what was happening as She couldn't walk yet to get to Alex. Knowing there wasn't much time left I went back to Alex holding her little fingers, Crying as she was without doubt dying. My eyes closed thinking we were about to lose her very soon.

 

Eyes closed; a bright light like the Sun had just hit me like I had just stepped outside. I stopped sobbing and opened my eyes like, what was going on??? it was a sanity check! Feeling defeated as

Alex looks the same, The Sun Rays I felt came back again seconds later, only this time I keeped my eyes closed and feeling Love some how. The powerful rays of the Sun is the only way I can explain it, As I heard a Very Powerful Voice, Perfect Pronunciation. She Will Be Fine.   Feeling this could only be GOD, opened my eyes and immediately she now appeared Pink, Normal. No Black or Purple just Normal. I told Susie right away what had happened, An Amazing Miracle and GOD made him self known. 

 

During the time there, the Doctor was telling us we need to let her go and remove from her from life support as they discovered by blood test she had Muscular Dystrophy. (Jerry's Kids for us old timers).

We said no each time (3 times in all), Then he told us we need to limit family as she was not getting enough rest and we fell for it. then when we didn't have family around Dr. Voggie (head of Nero Intensive Care Unit) tried one more time to ask us to remove life support. The Doctor then told us she would never Walk, Talk and she would be a Vegetable.  

Alexandra overcame All and had a Wonderful life! She lived life to the fullest & maybe 2 days in the hospital in the past 20 years for minor issues.

We remained with Kaiser for years and experienced many great doctors that helped us.

 There is more to tell about Alexandra’s life in the beginning but we don't have enough time today, She came home in 29 days and with Family & Friends, and with Love she Thrived.

 She went to Preschool, Kindergarten, 1 - 12th grade and Graduated. She had amazing friends in school that we all learned from and Love. She Loved her friends like Family and was so happy when she got to see her friends outside of school.

 Alexandra’s Favorite Color: Purple

She was Feisty, Funny, Intelligent, at times Shy.

She has a Heart of gold: Loved Babies more then anything, Baby dolly collection, Barbie dolls, People and Animals. Always learning, always growing.

 Alexandra was scared of snakes but over came her fear! she held a snake around her neck at the circus.

 She was scared to ride those big horses but over came that fear and loved her horses. Her horse Cutie who’s face no one could pet except Alexandra. Cutie would bring her head down into Alex’s lap very slowly so Alex could pet the top of her head.

 Christmas was her favorite holiday without a doubt! She would start planning Christmas in the spring, and wanted to have more lights and more decorations then the previous year. Add reindeer add this, add that. Today, We still have our Christmas lights on at our house and Susie's Christmas Village up for Alexandra.

 Her Favorite Movies:

She was a Big barney fan to this day

All the Home Alone Movies at Christmas time

Annie

Madeline

A Big Shirley Temple Fan, She seen all the movies she made.

The Parent Trap, New and Old

Mary Poppins (the Classic with Julie Andrews ) Susie introduced her to that movie

The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews I (Joe) introduced her to that Classic

Jesus of Nazareth from 1977 Staring Robert Powell, we watched Christmas and Easter, It became a tradition)

Abbott & Costello Meets Frankenstein I (Joe) introduced to her and It became a all hollows eve tradition 

 She received a Disney Historian Award at School, No one knew as much about Disney including the Adults

 Her Disney trip with Carrie was exhausting because they had so much fun! This last summer she went to Disneyland again with Haily (her Cousin)who jumped at every chance to help Alexandra with everything during the trip, They had a great time too!

She learned sign language from Taylor her friend, We didn't know she knew any until recently when she was in the hospital ICU and was on the Ventilator, as you cant cant speak while on the vent.

 She Loved Plays, Love for Music/Concerts, Especially the band Skillet.

We did have to drag her to her first concert kicking and screaming, did I forget to mention she was also stubborn.

 Susie & Alex would play in her room for hours in her younger years

They did all the girly things, Nails, hair, She loved to wear dresses on special occasions

Loved board games, She always adapted to technology very quickly, Show her one time & she got it...

 She loved to exercise, I cant remember a time when she turned down an opportunity to exercise. In fact her friend Autumn would take her to work out at the gym and work with small weights

 Autumn, her care giver & friend came into her life some years ago, Took her out to the experience the world, they went everywhere together, Plays ,Max train trips, parks to read stories and feed the ducks. We wanted to take her to a Play one time and she said she wanted to go, but not with Mom & Dad, but with Autumn….that made us feel good as we knew she reached a new level of Independence. 

 Joe (dad) and Alex were joined at the hip from day one. Daddy's little girl, They were inseparable. When dad was around mom didn’t exist Mom only existed at dinner time.

 She grew up with her Cousins and Loved All her Family very much!

 Her Birthday parties were Legendary her cousins and friends would show up with lots of things to do; They played in the Pool,Bouncer, Barney and Baby Bop came to one party. Clown at the next she also had Farm Animals come, and her unreal beautifully made cakes made by Marlene.

 Weekly visits to Healing Reins located here In Central Oregon, They invited her with open arms and she Loved the People there and They Loved her. There she loved Goats, Pigs, Chickens, Ducks and Feed them,but her Favorite was Cutie the Horse.

 We came into the Church in 2011,Father Charles made her feel welcome every time, always greeting her, shaking her hand, Asking Susie how she was doing. 

 Family time we watched many movies about Saints,Amazing people who did great things  Alexandra chose Saint Bernadette of Lourdes and her choice was absolute.

 Alexandra was getting weaker from her MMD over the past 3 years.

The Doctors in the ICU in Bend  were so very good, they did everything they could while she was there. Her muscles were just to weak and not a strong enough to cough. She was so Happy, Amazing and full of life and happiness, Her last few days she was reached out for doctors and nurses hands to hold, even people she hadn't meet yet. We miss her so very much!

 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alexandra Paige La Velle, please visit our floral store.