Coen Boyd Ritchie

Coen Boyd Ritchie, infant son of Jason and Natasha (Schroeder) Ritchie of Savanna, died March 11, 2012 in the loving arms of his parents at University of Iowa Hospitals. Coen was born at 12:37 p.m. February 2, 2012, the brother of Cora and Wyatt Ritchie
In June 2011 we found out that we were expecting our third child, and at the time we lived in Pepin, Wisconsin. It was September 12, 2011 that we went for our first ultra sound and found out that we were having another son. We were so excited! Also that day the ultra sound tech saw something around his heart. They weren't positive what it was so they made us an appointment in Rochester, MN at Mayo Clinic. We went there that same week and they did a more in depth ultra sound and confirmed Coen had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia or CDH. The doctor explained to us that the outlook was grim and he explained our options, but to us there would only ever be one. As long as he had a beating heart we were going to give him every chance. Over the next months, every ultra sound showed Coen to be growing and thriving. The doctors explained that Coen's worst complications would come at birth. The development of his lungs would be the biggest challenge and they wouldn't be able to predict that. They also told us he would be in the hospital for weeks, maybe months. So when the opportunity came to move back home to our family we did. We knew we would need their support. The doctor at Mayo clinic referred us to the University of Iowa Hospitals. Coen was finally born on February 2nd at 12:37 PM. Nana and Grandma Lori were there too and nobody wanted to miss a second! When Coen was born we were hopeful but very scared of the unknown. Once he came the doctors quickly placed him on a hospital baby bed and intubated him because we did not know to what extent his little lungs were able to work. Once they finished, they rolled him over by mom so she could get a peek, and then moved him over to the NICU where they care for sick little kiddo's. Coen did well for the first day and a half with just some mild sedation and a ventilator. During this time he would squeeze his mommy and daddy's fingers. For being such a little guy he sure looked tough in our eyes.
On Coen's second day we got word that his "stats" were falling due to a disease commonly associated with CDH called Pulmonary Hypertension or PH. Without a critical lifesaving therapy called Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO Coen would not survive. Coen bravely went onto ECMO with no problems but had to be heavily sedated and medically paralyzed so as to not disturb the cannula's connected preciously to him. This is where we met a special group of people that belong to the ECMO team. They would man the ECMO pump 24/7 ensuring it's smooth operation for Coen and provide mom and dad with a lasting friendship that will never be forgotten. Pastor Bob from Calvary Lutheran Church also visited and Coen was baptized and recognized as a child of God.
Finally after 13 days it came time for Coen to have his surgery to correct his Diaphragmatic Hernia. We were so scared and nervous for him but again he pulled through the procedure like a little trooper without any difficulties. He did this while still on ECMO.
The docs told us that once a little guy comes off ECMO it is extremely unlikely they would ever be able to receive the treatment again due to limited access, so we needed to be certain that the timing was optimal for him to come off. The very next day everything was looking great and we started a "trial off" period to see how Coen would react. We were all a nervous wreck but he did awesome so the decision was made to take him off ECMO and start his recovery.
Once off everything, he was doing pretty good for a little while but by late that Friday night Coen started having hypertensive episodes. By late Saturday night, he got so bad that we were again presented with the option to place Coen back on ECMO. This came as a shock but the surgeons successfully placed Coen back on ECMO and this was a first for a baby of Coen's age to receive 2 successive ECMO treatments.
Because Coen's PH was so severe and the normal medicines were not as effective the decision was made to try a new medicine designed for PH in adults. This had only been tried a handful of times throughout the country with varying success but for Coen the benefits outweighed the risks. During Coen's second ECMO run he developed a small hole in his left lung. Due to fluid and air buildup around his lungs they had to be collapsed fully for a few days to heal the hole. Getting them back open, once healed, was a long and stressful process for mom and dad but eventually they were successful. After 17 days it again looked as if the time was right for Coen to come back off ECMO and he did magnificent! This time after a check of pressures in his heart we were finally told there was "Good News!" The pressures in Coen's heart were getting better. PH was still present and the road would still be long for recovery, but this time things seemed much better. We quickly found out that the pulmonary hypertension was still very reactive and eventually became so severe that the effects were irreversible. When Coen's outcome became painfully obvious, his mommy and daddy were finally, at long last, able to hold their little angel warrior. He passed into heaven in their loving embrace.
The name Coen carries the meaning of "Brave Adviser" and our baby boy was exactly that. He was so brave and had a spirit to fight his sickness that we still cannot fathom from a child his age. He had so many firsts in his treatment and broke barrier's that many did not think possible. The experience and information that the docs learned from Coen will certainly be applied to other sick babies in the future and hopefully save lives. Our saying once Coen went on ECMO the second time was that he was writing the "Coen Chapter" in treatment for CDH and pulmonary hypertension. As parents, we could not be more proud of our brave little adviser and cherished our time here on earth with him. We take comfort in knowing he is in Heaven with God now, keeping us all safe with his love. Although his life with us on earth was short he will live on in our hearts forever.
Coen is paternal grandson to Nancy (Allan) DeSpain and Mick (Ruth) Morfey all of Savanna; maternal grandson to Lori (Terry) Messrich of Charlotte, Iowa; paternal great grandson to Boyd “Dude” (Sally) Ritchie of Savanna; and maternal great grandson to Allen (Nancy) Schroeder of Andover, Iowa and Marilyn (Gerald) Hoffmann of Charlotte, Iowa.