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Outside of school, difficult lessons

Two teen parents hope to earn GED certificates while caring for their sick baby daughter, who is hospitalized as a result of a rare birth defect.

By BETH N. GRAY
Published June 28, 2005

MASARYKTOWN - As the teen mother of a baby born with a birth defect, Jessica Eggleton has learned some hard lessons in a hurry.

On Jan. 19, the 15-year-old gave birth to a daughter born with gastroschisis, a birth defect in which her intestines developed outside her body.

Kyri Lozano, who bears the last name of her father Jose ,18, was born five weeks early at Bayfront Medical Center, St. Petersburg. She was immediately transferred to All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, where she underwent surgery to implant her intestines. She is still hospitalized in the neo-natal unit at All Children's.

Gastroschisis occurs about once in every 10,000 live births, according to Dr. Daniel McClenathan, pediatric gastroenterologist at All Children's Hospital, where he sees a baby with the condition about every one or two months.

"We see it with young mothers and we see more in premature babies too," McClenathan said.

Babies born with gastroschisis usually undergo surgery to reinsert their intestines and liver and to close their abdominal wall, McClenathan said.

"Many of these babies go to surgery on their first day of life," he said.

Sometimes part of the intestine is not working well and has to be removed.

"The biggest problem is feeding these babies," McClenathan said. "Sometimes the intestine is not working like yours and mine, so we have to feed these babies through an IV for a long period."

During surgery, part of Kyri's intestines and colon had to be removed. As a result, she cannot digest formula but must be fed special nutrients via a feeding tube and IVs, her mother said last week.

While the nutrient concoction boosted her weight from 4 pounds 13 ounces at birth to a respectable 12 pounds 3 ounces, it was destroying the baby's liver, Jessica's mother, Janet Eggleton, said she'd learned from doctors and nurses.

At one point, doctors thought Kyri might need a intestine and liver transplant.

A transplant becomes necessary if enough intestine has to be removed because of intestinal damage and there is not enough left to absorb food, McClenathan said.

"Rarely does an intestinal transplant has to be done," he said.

Earlier this month, Jessica and her mother were preparing to accompany Kyri to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for a possible transplant but were later told that the trip might not be necessary.

"She's doing a lot better than she has before," Jessica said.

But Kyri's health fluctuates. She then developed an infection "and they might have to take her off food and start all over again," Jessica said recently.

McClenathan said parents of children born with gastroschisis can be hopeful.

He remembers one of his first gastroschisis patients was a boy born 21 years ago. He was in the hospital a lot during his first five years of his life, McClenathan said.

"Now he is a normal kid. He's 21 years old and he's a very lovable boy," he said.

Kyri prognosis?

"This baby is very sick. But there are a lot of things being developed," he said. "I'm very optimistic."

While health insurance, money from foundations and possible Social Security disability payments for Kyri will cover most of the medical costs, Eggleton said, if it becomes necessary, a trip to Jackson Memorial could be financially taxing.

"Our problem is us having to go down there and live," she said.

In that case, she anticipates leaving her job as a cafeteria worker at Shady Hills Elementary School. Free lodging at the Ronald McDonald House is limited to 60 days, she said.

To help with the extended family's expenses, a trust account has been established in the name of Kyri Lozano at Bank of America. Contributors may donate at any of the bank's offices in Florida.

Meanwhile, Jose Lozano, the infant's father, has moved into the Eggleton household..

Lozano, who dropped out of Hernando High School in 9th grade, is looking for work. Meanwhile, he is studying for his GED diploma, while Jessica, who had homebound instruction from the school last year, hopes to follow suit.

Having a baby at an age when most of her peers are getting used to the idea of high school, has been an education.

"I guess I didn't really mean for it to happen, but I'm glad it did happen," she said. "It helped me grow up a lot."

Jessica has a word of caution for her sexually active peers, however.

"I say that they should be more safe and use protection."

--Beth Gray may be contacted at graybethn@earthlink.net

[Last modified June 28, 2005, 11:41:48]