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Jaxon Layne Bartolini holds his mom's finger with his tiny hand while in the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. Jaxon's mom, Brandi Stephens of Manteno, said Jaxon is a fighter and tries to pull at various tubes leading to and from his body. In this picture you can see his identification band that had slipped down around his foot. He was born prematurely on Aug. 7 due to medical complications his mother faced. He weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces and was 12 inches long. Brandi is a full-time Manteno firefighter and part time Bourbonnais firefighter. photo courtesy of Brandi Stephens
Miracle child continues to fight  Share
Reflecting on the events leading to and surrounding her son Jaxon's birth, Brandi Stephens, 27, sums him up as a ''miracle child.'' Jaxon Layne Bartolini was born Aug. 7 at 1 pound, 11 ounces. He remains hospitalized in the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. The Manteno child was born prematurely due to medical complications his mother faced. At the age of 17, Brandi was diagnosed with a bicornuate uterus. A bicornuate uterus is a rare congenital uterine malformation. The uterus is basically heart-shaped with two joined cavities whereas a typical uterus has a single cavity.
Brandi also had a line of tissue vertically dividing her vagina and cervix. As a teen, a physician surgically removed the tissue dividing her vagina and cervix. The tissue dividing her uterus was left alone. Brandi was told at that time, if she had a child some day, she would be a high risk pregnancy. Bicornuate uterus is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, premature labor, breech position for the baby and the placenta being trapped in the uterus. When she learned in March that she was pregnant, Brandi was told by her OB/GYN that the developing child could push tissue dividing the uterus to the side, allowing the child to grow normally. This did not happen. With no labor pains as a warning, Brandi's water broke at 24 weeks into her pregnancy. ''God was part of this (conception, pregnancy and delivery) in so many ways,'' Brandi said. Brandi met her fiance, Jon Bartolini, on Aug. 10, 2008. Dealing with endometriosis since her teenage years, Brandi took birth control pills to help alleviate pain associated with the condition. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found elsewhere in the body. With a busy work schedule as a full time EMT-paramedic for Manteno Fire Department, part time EMT-paramedic with Bourbonnais Fire Department and part time ER technician at St. James Hospital and Health Centers in Olympia Fields, Brandi didn't have time to pick up her birth control pills from a pharmacy. She missed taking them for four days. Overall, women with endometriosis find it harder to become pregnant than women in general. Couple endometriosis with taking birth control pills and having a bicornuate uterus, Brandi had little concern about becoming pregnant during the four days she didn't take her birth control. Surprisingly, on March 21 she learned she was six weeks pregnant. Having a bicornuate uterus, Brandi was immediately treated as a high risk pregnancy. In April, she had to be placed on ''light duty'' at work, restricting her ability to lift anything over 20 pounds. She was given smaller jobs with the Manteno fire department, such as painting fire hydrants. Jaxon continued to develop well, expanding in just one side of her uterus. At 18 weeks, an ultrasound showed he was healthy. Women with a bicornuate uterus can carry a child to term. However, a child doesn't have as much space to grow. When the uterus over-stretches, it triggers labor. The cervix can also be weak and not hold a baby inside. On Aug. 5, Brandi went to a Kankakee hospital with sharp pain in her abdomen. That pain shifted to her back. She remained hospitalized until Aug. 7 and underwent testing to find the source of her pain. Her physician thought it could be associated with a kidney stone or appendicitis. At that time, her cervix was noted as being ''thin,'' but Brandi was not in labor. On Aug. 7, she was in the hospital speaking to her OB/GYN about her tests. Her physician told her to go home and stay on bed rest. As Brandi spoke with her doctor, her water broke. Medical staff and her physician were ''frantic,'' Brandi said, trying to escort her to labor and delivery. Brandi called Jon, who was working as a tree trimmer with Four Seasons Tree Care Incorporated in Bourbonnais. He had just finished climbing a tree, she said. Her mother, Brenda Stephens of Bradley, was first to arrive at the hospital, and then Jon. ''I was gripping the bed rails screaming 'No! This isn't supposed to happen!''' Brandi said. Jaxon was stuck at her cervix and her cervix would not dilate. Brandi remembers a physician telling her, ''We need to save your baby. We need to put you under so we can do a caesarean section.'' Jaxon was delivered at 1 pound, 11 ounces and just 12 inches long. Within one hour after his birth, he was flown by helicopter to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. Two days later, Brandi was discharged from the Kankakee hospital. She was only able to see Jaxon for a few minutes after he was born, and it was two weeks before she was able to hold him. Every four hours, Brandi calls the UofC to check on her son's progress. Every other day she visits and holds him. On weekends, she and Jon and other family members spend even more time with him. On Sept. 24, Jaxon was up to 3 pounds, 1 ounce and 15 inches long. His organs are functioning well and he has only needed one surgery - to close an artery in his heart. Before birth, a special artery lets blood bypass the lungs because the fetus gets oxygen through the placenta. This artery normally closes after birth so blood can go to the lungs and pick up oxygen. With premature babies, sometimes the artery will not close. ''His blood oxygen levels are much better now,'' Brandi said. Jaxon opens his eyes now and reacts to Brandi and Jon's voices, she said. Jon and Brandi both feel like they have not bonded with their son yet. They find it hard to feel like a ''mom'' and ''dad'' because Jaxon is not in their home. ''I'm his mom and right now I can't give him anything but breast milk,'' Brandi said. They hope he will be released from the hospital by his original due date, Nov. 25. At home they have a nursery room set up for Jaxon, and Brandi is receiving a baby shower from friends and family on Oct. 18. She anticipates returning to work full time on Sept. 29. Until then, Manteno firefighters have been working Brandi's hours for free. They have also donated their vacation time to her so she can continue to take time off. Between her faith in God and support from Jon, Brandi finds strength. ''You have to surrender to God,'' she said. Her neighbor and best friend, Lacey Bracken, has also been a source of comfort. ''I have optimistic days (about Jaxon) and pessimistic days,'' Brandi said. ''But I know that this has all happened to us for a reason. Jaxon is a fighter.'' A number of benefits have been held and will be held to help with Jaxon's medical expenses and travel expenses for his parents to visit him in Chicago. Jon's grandmother, Gay Collins of Kankakee, has been organizing the events. On Sept. 30, 10 percent of all proceeds at Club Irwin, 4460 Main St. in the town of Irwin, will be given towards Jaxon's care. An event will be held at 2 p.m., Oct. 4 at Vito's Pizzeria, 187 Armour Road in Bourbonnais. Tickets will be sold for $10 each and will include a pizza buffet, Italian beef sandwiches, snacks and drinks. There will also be raffles and live entertainment. Tickets can be purchased at Vito's. An event will be held at 2 p.m., Nov. 7 at RiverBend Bar & Grill at 6070E State Route 17 in Kankakee. People who would like to make a donation can do so in Jaxon's name at any local First Trust Bank of Illinois branch. Tracy Ahrens is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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