Emporia Post 5 AAA advances to state , Page 7

By Jessie Wagoner jessie @ emporia . com

It ’ s often been said that the best gifts come in small packages .

Haiven Peck is proving the saying true .

Haiven was born on May 10 at just 25 weeks gestation , weighing just a little more than one pound . Her due date of Aug . 21 has yet to arrive , though she is already two months old .

According to the March of Dimes , approximately 380,000 babies are born prematurely in the United States each year — many of those babies do not survive . Risks of prematurity are plentiful and include heart problems , brain bleeds , vision loss , jaundice , difficulties breathing and infections . Haiven has experienced many of these complications .

“ She had a hole in her heart , her lung collapsed , she got a bleed in the brain , her stomach quit working and she got a staph infection ,” Janie Crowell-Peck , Haiven ’ s mother said .

Janie Crowell-Peck said her pregnancy with Haiven , her fifth pregnancy , began normally . Then , at 12 weeks , she experienced a hemorrhage . Doctors did not anticipate that Haiven would survive the pregnancy and recommended termination .

“ After the hemorrhage they said she would die ,” Crowell-Peck said . “ I felt like I was dealing with a death , not a pregnancy . The specialist said that I needed to terminate the pregnancy and I just couldn ’ t do that .”

With termination off the table ,

Crowell-Peck tried to brace herself for the worst — and bad news kept coming . By week 20 , her water had broken and she was admitted to Stormont Vail in Topeka . Baby Haiven was left in peril with little amniotic fluid to protect her .

Crowell-Peck describes her delivery of Haiven alive as a “ miracle .” With so many odds stacked against her , Haiven was not only born alive but survived the first critical week .

“ I always heard of miracles , but now I ’ ve seen one ,” Crowell-Peck said . “ The doctors didn ’ t think she would make it the first week and look at her now .”

Premature babies require intensive and around-the-clock care , which Haiven continues to receive at Stormont Vail . Crowell-Peck travels back and forth from Emporia to Topeka , balancing her time between tiny Haiven and her four older sisters at home . The expense of travel and time away from all of her children continues to be an ongoing struggle .

Haiven is expected to join her family in Emporia in another four to six weeks . She has gained weight and recently weighed in at four pounds . Coming home does not necessarily mean that Haiven is out of the woods .

“ The doctors have told me that once she is home , she can ’ t go to day care ,” Crowell-Peck said . “ For the first year she will have to avoid day care because of the chance of respiratory infections .”

Courtesy photo

Haiven Peck was born prematurely at 25 weeks gestation , weighing just a little more than one pound . Her mom , Janie Crowell-Peck , holds her tiny foot .

Haiven Peck now weighs four pounds . She should be able to join her family in Emporia soon .

Courtesy photo

The fact that Haiven will not be able to attend day care concerns Crowell-Peck . She will be unable to work during that time and will still need to ferry Haiven back and forth to doctor appointments out of town .

According to the March of Dimes , premature babies have an increased risk of ongoing health concerns . Premature babies are more susceptible to acquiring infections , may have compromised immune systems and respiratory concerns .

Crowell-Peck doesn ’ t know for certain what the future holds for baby Haiven but she is certain that she is supposed to be here .

For anyone wishing to help the family , donations can be sent to 911 Garfield St . in Emporia .

By Mary Ann Redeker maryann @ emporia . com

The Emporia City Commission had a busy afternoon and evening Wednesday , as it held both a study session and an action session back to back .

During the action session in the Municipal Court Room , April Swartz from Varney & Associates in Manhattan presented the 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report , which was reported to be in order and was positive for the commission .

The commission awarded the bid for the KLINK Resurfacing Project to APAC-Kansas , Inc ., Shear Division . in the amount of $ 445,970.50 . The project is budgeted at $ 250,000 out of the multiyear fund for the city ’ s portion of the construction costs . The other portion will come from KDOT .

“ This is for the resurfacing of our streets around the city ,” City Manager Mark McAnarney said . “ It ’ s for general street improvements .”

Next , the commission approved a proposal from ATHCO from Lenexa for a new pour-inplace surface and playground equipment at Hammond Park in the amount of $ 148,316 . This equipment will replace items that are no longer adequate . The project will be paid out of the multiyear and special parks funds .

“ We have a current playground which is out of compliance ,” McAnarney said . “ This project will contain a rubberized surface over concrete . It is unique as it will be more accessible and meets the intent of the law . It is a tremendous improvement over what we have now . The project should start by the end of August .”

The commission also appointed members to the Community Housing Board , which had five openings .

Patrick Werly , Cruz Jasso , Jennifer Skiles and Kevin Ogle were all reappointed to the board , while Megan O ’ Brien was appointed as a first-time member .

“ I did the interviews and I was really impressed with the quality of people who want to donate their time to sit on this board ,” Vice Mayor Bobbi Mlynar said . “ I think they will be a well-balanced board .”

In other business , commissioners approved a measure to make changes to current animal control ordinances .

Changes were made to ordinances 6-1 and 6-21 , updating these sections to include a definition for community cat caregiver . It would exempt these caregivers from being

Please see City , Page 3

By John Robinson john @ emporia . com

VOL . 125 , NO . 17

Residents are looking for ways to beat the heat , given the excessive heat warning in effect until Saturday .

It ’ s not only people who have to stay cool , however . Family pets , especially ones kept outside , are just as vulnerable as the temperatures rise .

“ When the temperature gets that high , it ’ s dangerous for everybody and everything ,” Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Floyd Dorsey said . “ The most important thing for animals — if they ’ re kept outside — is they have shade . Hopefully there is somewhere where there is air movement . And that you provide a container of cool water for them to drink as much as they need .”

Dorsey also recommended buying a “ plastic kiddie pool ” to fill with water to give pets the option to cool off and to keep any dog houses in the shade and out of the sun .

“ If your dogs are house pets , the best thing to do is make sure you walk them early or late and keep them inside in the cool ,” he said .

According to Dorsey , signs of heat stroke in a pet can manifest in signs that are “ hard to miss .”

“ Their body temperature can reach 108 degrees ,” Dorsey said . A normal body temperature for a dog ranges anywhere from 101 - 102.5 degrees .

“ They ’ ll pant uncontrollably or pass out — but they can be suffering without stroking ; they

can be hot and dehydrated — especially in the sun with no way to escape .

“ If they ’ re panting hard but there is no fluid around their mouth and no cool water , then they can suffer and potentially die from the heat .”

Dorsey also warned against leaving pets in vehicles , even if the window is down .

“ When I see a dog in a car with the window cracked six inches , that is not enough to keep them cool ,” he said . “ If you have to travel with them , have a plan for not leaving them in the car unless you can keep it running with the air conditioning on .” For pets with large fur coats , Dorsey said it serves as protection from the sun .

“ A coat on a longhaired dog can provide some relief from the sun ,” Dorsey said . “ If the hair isn ’ t clean or it is matted , sometimes the best thing to do is shave them down for the hot weather — it just depends on the dog .”

John Robinson / Gazette

A dog named Odin drinks from a water bowl underneath the shade at the Buck Fund Dog Park .