On February 2nd of 1995 my wife Sharon announced her confirmed pregnancy. Early blood tests indicated that Sharon was developing Rh anti-bodies.

Through February to June Sharon had regular office visits with her doctor, C.W. Simpson, a specialist in gynecology reproductive medicine. During the 18th week of the pregnancy Sharon was scheduled for a genetic test at Royal University Hospital (RUH) in Saskatoon. The purpose of this test was to check for Down's Syndrome, as a result of Sharon's age. She was also tested once again for Rh anti-bodies and bilirubin levels. The results of both of these were in the acceptable range.

In mid July, Dr. Simpson performed an amniocentesis at RUH. The results of this test were borderline at best. As we were going to be in Winnipeg, Manitoba for vacation he recommended that Sharon visit the Rh Laboratory in Winnipeg for an evaluation. The Winnipeg lab is one of the premiere Rh facilities in North America.

On August 1st we went to the Rh Lab. located in the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Dr. Chris Harman and Dr. Menticogliu performed an amniocentesis. Results of this test were once again borderline. They recommended a return visit within a week or so.

August 9th saw us back at the Rh Lab. Yet another amnio. The results were again acceptable yet borderline. Both of these tests were only performed at this lab because we happened to be in the city, otherwise Sharon probably wouldn't have been referred to it. Winnipeg is 850 kilometers (500+ miles) from our home in Saskatoon.

August 15th Sharon had a routine visit with Dr. Simpson.

August 21st had Sharon having yet another amnio and another ultrasound at RUH. Both procedures were becoming part of the routine visits. All the while there is a strike going on at the hospital. The medical residents, interns and students are demanding more money and improved working relationships with the hospital.

August 22nd. Dr. Simpson called to say he scheduled yet another amnio. The results of the one the day before were unbelievable. He wanted to make sure that there hadn't been some sort of error or mistake.

August 23rd. Sharon is now starting to complain that she is starting to feel like a pin cushion. Our best guess to this point is 100 needles and counting. Amnio done at RUH. The results of the previous test were confirmed. The Rh levels of anti-D and anti-C were extremely high.

August 24th. Dr. Simpson called. Sharon was booked for a fetal intravascular transfusion (a blood transfusion while still in the uterus) at the Rh Lab in Winnipeg for August 25th at 8:30 am. Sharon took it all in stride and proceeded back to the meeting she was in at work. She called me later to tell me that we would have to make a trip to Winnipeg. I rushed home from work to collect Brendan and pack the car. We left for Winnipeg sometime between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. To travel 850 kilometers with a very pregnant, emotionally distraught wife and a 6 year old is quite the experience. Under normal conditions it takes us about 9 hours we should have been there around 10:30 PM or 11:00 PM. We got there well after midnight. We went directly to the hospital where Sharon had an ultrasound to make sure things were OK. If they weren't the team of specialists were on call to perform the transfusion at a moment's notice. Everything was fine, considering the circumstances. They wanted to admit Sharon for the night and perform the transfusion in the morning. Sharon wanted none of that, she wanted to go and sleep and her mother and father's for the night. So that is exactly what we did.

August 25th. We got a rather short night's sleep and headed back to the hospital. At 8:30 am Sharon, the medical team and I walked into the small operating room for the delicate task of the transfusion. Using ultrasound they passed a 20 guage spinal needle into the umbilical vein at the point where it connects to the placenta. The procedure went very well, Sharon and the baby both cooperated and didn't cause any problems. The whole procedure took a little over an hour. The whole time I am standing in the back dressed in surgical greens watching the whole procedure. I am just in awe of the things I see and hear going on around me. I cannot express how amazed I was at what they were doing. She was then rolled up to the recovery room where we stayed for several hours to ensure that the baby was Ok. Dr. Harman came by to say that every thing went extremely well, it was one of the best and most routine ones he had performed. He was very pleased with the results. He indicated that Sharon should come back the next day for an ultrasound and then be back at the hospital in Winnipeg within 7 to 10 days. After Sharon was released we spent the rest of the day with her Mom and Dad.

August 7th. Back to Rh Lab. Another ultrasound. Everything was fine and we left directly for home, yep another 850 kilometers away. We got home around 8:30 PM.

August 30th Another check up with Dr. Simpson. Everything looked OK.

August 31st On the road again to Winnipeg. We left Saskatoon at around 1:00 PM and arrived in Winnipeg at around 12:30 AM. The trip seemed at lot longer this time. Went to the RH lab for a quick assessment and then on to Sharon's parents for a couple of hours sleep.

September 1st We were at the RH lab by 8:30. The transfusion went without any problems. We waited in the recovery area for a few hours and when they were satisfied everything was Ok they let Sharon leave. We spent the rest of the day touring around Winnipeg.

September 2nd Sharon had an ultrasound at the RH Lab. Everything looked fine and we able to leave for home at around 12:00 PM. Another 850 kilometers and a long, long day. We arrived home at around midnight and went straight to bed.

September 5th An office visit to Dr. Simpson.

September 8th An ultrasound at RUH by Dr. Simpson.

September 9th Unfortunately I had to depart for Ottawa on work related business. Sharon's parent's drove from Winnipeg to Saskatoon to be with her and to drive her to Winnipeg the following day.

September 10th Sharon, her parents and Brendan depart for Winnipeg.

September 11th The transfusion was scheduled for 8:30 AM. The procedure went as expected and there were no problems right away. While in the recovery room Sharon starts to have contractions. Until they get them under control they won't let her leave. The contractions carried on for a coule of hours but eventually stopped when Sharon was allowed to sit up and eat some toast. Once they were satisfied the contractions had stopped they let Sharon leave the hospital.

September 12th Back to the RH lab to have a follow-up ultrasound. Things checked out fine and Sharon, Brendan and her parents depart for Saskatoon. They arrive in time for Sharon to meet with Brendan's teacher as the school is hosting a meet the teacher night.

September 13th Regular appointment with Dr. Simpson.

September 15th Sharon's parents leave for home as I will be home from Ottawa later that afternoon.

September 19th Darn, the little guy isn't born yet and today is my birthday. Oh well, off to the doctor for a routine visit. Everything, under the circumstances, is OK.

September 25th A few days earlier we had found out that our regular family doctor, Dr D. Dick had not only left the practice but the country as well. Great who was going to care for Sharon and the little fella now. A brief visit with Dr. Large, a partner in our family doctor's office, was arranged. This was an introductory visit so that Sharon and Dr. Large at least knew of each other before the delivery.

September 27th The big day is quickly approaching. We go to Royal University hospital for Pre-Admission at 8:00 am and then for a fetal assessment at 9:30 am. So far so good.

September 28th A visit to Dr. Simpson. Things are still progressing as planned.

October 1st Sharon's parents arrive from Winnipeg. Boy we have sure put a lot of miles on our vehicles over the last 2 months.

October 2nd THE BIG DAY.... At about 8:00am Sharon and I get into the car for the 15 minute trip to Royal University Hospital. It was a very quiet drive. Sharon is scheduled to start induction at around 9:00 am. It was about 10:00am before things started happening. Sharon was connected to a Fetal monitor and the staff constantly stopped in to check on Sharon.

After about 2 hours the monitors were removed and Sharon started to pace the floors. It wasn't unit about 2:00pm that anything started to happen. It was short lived and by 6:30pm not much more had happened. It was decided to head to the hot tub to help Sharon relax. She decided that the pain was so bad that she wanted pain killers. She was given a choice, pain killers or hot tub, and the hot tub won.

By 7:45pm Sharon was complete relaxed and she had become quite, quite mellow. One of the nurses and I helped her out of the tub, dried her off, put her gown back on and helped her walk down to the birthing room.

The labour was allowed to progress in the birthing room until about 8:45. Sharon continued to attempt natural childbirth with no success. It was decided to move her to an operating room where they would have everything they needed close at hand. It was decided to proceed with an epidural injection to help control the pain. While this was being done and allowed to take effect Dr. Simpson went for a quick coffee break.

Upon his return they tried again and while doing this Sharon felt a tearing along her previous C-section incision (Brendan had been delivered by C-section). It was decided that there was no other option but to perform a C-Section. At this point the anesthetist and Dr. Simpson were at odds as to how to best control the pain. The end result was that Sharon was given way to much of something. In a matter of minutes the anesthetic had reached her lungs and she was unable to breathe. I was unceremoniously given the boot.

The hallway at 9:00pm at night is an extremely quiet spot. I had far to much time to think about what was going on. It was a nerve-wracking 45 minutes not knowing what was happening to Sharon and how the baby was doing. It was so QUIET.

At 10:02pm little Ryan Matthew met the world. He was in pretty rough shape at first and they had to get him stabilized and cleaned up. Once that was done they invited me back in and filled me in on how things had progressed. Sharon was just starting to come to and they were taking Ryan to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). He was extremely jaundiced and was in need of some other attention. I would get to see him in a few hours. It was kinda hard to watch them wheel him off in a different direction. I followed Sharon down to her room and stayed with her until she was fully awake.

I gave her ice chips and water as she was extremely thirsty. Needless to say it didn't stay down. At about 2:30am she told me to go home and get some sleep, it had been a long day and she was ready for a "nap" as she put it. Off I went for few hours of sleep.

October 3rd Wow, did 7:30 come early. Grandpa and Grandma would look after Brendan and make sure he got off to school OK. I showered and dressed and headed back to the hospital. Sharon was awake and hungry. It wasn't until about 11:00am that I got to see Ryan. He was so small and had all kinds of wires attached. Even his head had been shaved and monitor leads attached to a couple of spots. He had gauze pads taped over his eyes as they had him under an ultraviolet light to help with the jaundice. They were monitoring all kinds of things, especially the iron in his blood, bilirubin levels and the Rh factors. He would be there for almost 5 days.