Nashayla

From May 25th, 2002 through September 4th, 2016 Our daughter Nashayla D. Merrill was an outgoing, energetic, smart, full of imagination, tree climbing, eager to learn little lady. Then our world came crashing down on September 5th, 2016. We woke up to Nashayla breathing different as if she was drowning… I tried waking her up, and her daddy tried. Her eyes rolled back, so we assumed she may be having a seizure for the first time. So, my husband rolled her to her side, nothing helped. She then let out a big deep gasp for air. My husband scooped her in her arms to bring her to the truck, so we could bring her to the ER, although we were thinking she was okay since she let out that air.   Then she turned blue and stopped breathing. I had to perform CPR on my daughter, in the backseat of our SUV. All while my husband drove down HWY 63, heading toward the location the 911 coordinator advised us to go to meet up with responders. My husband topped our SUV out at 130 mph.  We made it to the location we were advised to go. There we met up with first responders, and they gave me a break and they continued CPR, she was also shocked with AED machine twice. Multiple people worked on our daughter, including 1st responders, Police officers, fireman, and paramedics. She was tubed in the ambulance onsite. She was then transported to Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, MS via ambulance. There, doctors ordered multiple test such as EKG’s, X-Rays, Scans, Blood Test, nothing was confirmed. Because she was only 14 and needed proper pediatric care she was transported via ambulance to USA Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Mobile, AL. She was placed in ICU and More test were run, the doctors were certain she needed a pacemaker, so on September 7th, 2016 our daughter was transported via helicopter to Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson, MS. She was placed in their ICU unit and more test were run. She was in a coma for approximately 4 weeks. Still nothing on what caused this.

They did find that she needed a pacemaker quick, so on September 9th, 2016, she was brought into surgery and a pacemaker/defib was placed. All we were told was she would not ever be the same again, and she needed to be taken off the vent and possibly medicated to let her pass. After some personal decisions and our faith in God, we decided to ask for a transfer back to Mobile, AL. So, after some phone calls and paperwork we were granted our request. Shayla spent 36 days in the ICU at Batson Hospital. We were released, and on October 13th, 2016, Shayla was transported via ambulance back to USA Women and children’s hospital in Mobile, Al. When we arrived, we were greeted by the staff, assuring us they would do everything they could. She was placed in ICU, on October 20, 2016, Shayla was removed from the vent. No more tubes. She was breathing fine. She had Many test performed, finally we had a diagnosis. Shayla in fact, has “NON-COMPACTION CARDIOMYOPATHY”. She was put in the Condition she is in by lack of Oxygen to her Brain. For 14 years we had no idea she had a heart problem. The prognosis was our daughter may never walk, talk, eat by mouth, or move any limbs. As a family with strong faith we accepted this prognosis. On November 16th, 2016 Shayla was moved out of ICU to a regular room. She was making small improvements every day, such as moving her head and her eyes. On December 2, 2016, Shayla was brought into surgery for Feeding tube placement. She was released to go home on December 19th, 2016.