Epilogue

Hello everyone,
I notice that as we near the 3 month mark since Oleyen's birth, I am still getting a substantial amount of hits on this site. I'll keep it available indefinitely.

We do have some more information on Oleyen's condition, which might seem like bad news, but actually makes her life all the more remarkable in comparison.

Oleyen did not have "congenital diaphragmatic hernia" as the doctors thought. She had a rare condition called "agenesis of the diaphragm" - which translates into - rather than having just a hole, she had no diaphragm at all. It was a fatal condition - surgery would not have helped her.

What is remarkable is that of the only 5 previously reported cases of this condition, none lived past a few hours beyond birth - except Oleyen. Oleyen was given 19 days with her family that no other child with this condition has ever been granted. She breathed on her own when she physically had no ability to do so. There is no medical explanation for this.

I find this strangely comforting, that she put out that much effort to be with us as long as she did. It makes me appreciate it more, in a way. Plus, we Vollette girls love to prove the medical community wrong anyway...

Stay warm,
Lauren