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COLE BOWEN — USA
Born May 12, 2000, died June 6, 2000 Early-onset Mother's GBS Status: Not tested Gestational Age: 36.5 weeks Age harmed: 6 days of age |
Our firstborn son was born on May 12, 2000. Apgar score was a 10. We thought he was perfectly healthy. We took him home and, on the 6th day of his precious little life, he didn't want to wake up to eat. He constantly slept. I just had that gut feeling something wasn't right. I called the doctor's office several times and talked with the nurse.. they kept telling me that he's fine, he's a newborn, he will wake up and eat when he gets hungry. Finally about 9pm that night I called back and said have the doctor call me back. I do not want to talk to a nurse. The doctor called back and I told him what was going on and he told me to meet him at his office ASAP. He took him out of the car when we got there and literally ran across the street to the hospital with him. After that the rest is a blur.
After many tests he concluded that he had spinal meningitis resulting from Group B Strep and they transferred us to a Children's Hospital in Greenville SC hoping that the specialized care might pull him through. They put him on a ventilator supposedly just to let him little body rest and get better, but it didn't work. We were in the PICU for 18 days. The doctors did everything they could for him then told us that we had to decide whether to take him off life support or leave him there with not much brain activity. That night we prayed and prayed. Our church even had a prayer service at the hospital where over 250 people showed up to unite with us and support us. We got back to his room that night and we were getting ready to go to the Ronald McDonald House to sleep and we walked over to him to read him his Bible verses (keep in mind he was comatose - not moving or opening his eyes - very little brain activity) and there was a prayer bear in his bed that my mom had put in there. No one was in the room but us and we looked over and the cross that was stitched in the bear's chest was in our child's hand. At that point we knew God already had him and we didn't have a decision to make. The next day they took him off life support and we had two hours to spend with him not hooked up to any machines and just held him and loved him until he passed away! He will forever be our precious angel!
— Nikki Bowen, SC, USA
Cole's mother tells everyone to get tested for GBS and has handed out brochures at several different doctor's offices. She has volunteered at a 5-day GBS exhibit booth at an international obstetrical conference in Washington DC giving out info to doctors before testing was even mandatory.
After many tests he concluded that he had spinal meningitis resulting from Group B Strep and they transferred us to a Children's Hospital in Greenville SC hoping that the specialized care might pull him through. They put him on a ventilator supposedly just to let him little body rest and get better, but it didn't work. We were in the PICU for 18 days. The doctors did everything they could for him then told us that we had to decide whether to take him off life support or leave him there with not much brain activity. That night we prayed and prayed. Our church even had a prayer service at the hospital where over 250 people showed up to unite with us and support us. We got back to his room that night and we were getting ready to go to the Ronald McDonald House to sleep and we walked over to him to read him his Bible verses (keep in mind he was comatose - not moving or opening his eyes - very little brain activity) and there was a prayer bear in his bed that my mom had put in there. No one was in the room but us and we looked over and the cross that was stitched in the bear's chest was in our child's hand. At that point we knew God already had him and we didn't have a decision to make. The next day they took him off life support and we had two hours to spend with him not hooked up to any machines and just held him and loved him until he passed away! He will forever be our precious angel!
— Nikki Bowen, SC, USA
Cole's mother tells everyone to get tested for GBS and has handed out brochures at several different doctor's offices. She has volunteered at a 5-day GBS exhibit booth at an international obstetrical conference in Washington DC giving out info to doctors before testing was even mandatory.
To learn more about Perinatal & GBS Misconceptions, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of Preterm Labor, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Infection, click HERE.
To learn more about Why Membranes Should NOT Be Stripped, click HERE.
To learn more about How to Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS), click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of Preterm Labor, click HERE.
To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Infection, click HERE.
To learn more about Why Membranes Should NOT Be Stripped, click HERE.
To learn more about How to Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS), click HERE.