Conner Wayne Combs Pprom Page

06/02/2025

We recognize June 1-2 as PPROM Awareness Days.

I had never heard of PPROM (Pre-term Premature Rupture of Membrames aka “your water broke too soon”) until I experienced it with our son Conner in 2012.

We choose life and I was pregnant for 8 weeks after my water broke with Conner until he was born at 26 weeks. We only had a few hours with him before he passed on to heaven but we are forever grateful for that time! -Caroline 💙

12/17/2024

A friend whose sweet little baby is at Duke right now, visited the Conner Wayne Combs room at Duke University Hospital yesterday and gave me an exciting update.

If you read my 2022 update from when Deacon was born, I shared the space had turned into a nurse’s lounge, since Covid. When we left the hospital, I honestly never thought it was return to its original purpose and while I felt disappointment, had come to peace with that.

Another friend sent me a message update about a month ago that the space had been restored to an antepardem lounge for patients and families! I was super encouraged to learn that! And I’m thankful my other friend was able to get some pictures to send me.

The (former) Conner Wayne Combs Foundation funded this room so that families visiting their loved one had a space to be. It’s also a space (that’s not a hospital bed) that able, longer term patients can go to. If you look at the last picture, you’ll see the fun activities planned this month.

This was certainly a wonderful update to learn before the Holidays. I’m so thankful the space is back! Our picture and story are still hanging and the tree above the refrigerator was a piece I had bought to decorate.

✨Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!✨

06/02/2024

Conner’s BLUE hydrangea is in full bloom, just in time for June 1-2 PPROM Awareness days! 💙💙💙

This year, friends we actually know experienced PPROM and unfortunately, the loss of their sweet “A”. They knew of PPROM, because of our experience in 2012. That didn’t make their situation any easier, but they did reach out and we were able to talk about it and pray with them about it. Leading up to follow up medical appointments, we gave them questions to ask, based on what we know from our experience. We certainly hurt for these friends but glad we were able to be there to talk to them.

There can be a comfort in knowing someone understands what you are going through. If you ever know anyone who has experienced PPROM, you can always connect them to me. 💙

05/11/2024

Conner’s hydrangea is blooming, just in time for Mother’s Day! 💙🩵

05/04/2024

✨Happy 12th Birthday in Heaven✨ Conner Wayne Combs! Each year we sing happy birthday and share what milestones you would be experiencing. This year we said it would be your first time going to Youth Camp (one of Cadence’s favorite events ever). And while we miss experiencing earthly life with you, we understand that you are in Heaven and that we will be reunited together one day! 💙🩵💙🩵💙

06/01/2023

We remember those families who have experienced PPROM (Pre-term Premature Rupture of Membranes) aka “your water breaks too soon during pregnancy”. (before 36 weeks)

I experienced this in 2012 when pregnant with our son, Conner. My water broke when I was just shy of 18 weeks pregnant. Miraculously, I was able to stay pregnant until he was born at 26 weeks. He lived less than a day but we will never regret doing everything we could for him.

Babies DO survive, I’m in many groups and see those little miracles! PPROM can happen at any gestation before 36 weeks and many times, there is no medical reason. (As was the case for me).

I’m always here to help encourage any families that may be experiencing this. Feel free to message me anytime. 💙

~Caroline

07/27/2022

Deacon James Combs joined our family on July 15, 2022. His first name, Deacon, means “messenger/servant” and his middle name, James, is after Stephen’s great-grandfather and my grandfather.

I realize I never shared that we were expecting another miracle here. It’s probably partially because I was in shock the whole pregnancy! You see, we did want a third child but had passed the point of thinking it was going to be biological as I’m over 40 now. But the Lord had a grand plan and now little Deacon is home and fits right in with our family!

I delivered at Duke again. Once again, all of our care was just wonderful! Of course we wanted to visit the Conner Wayne Combs Antepartum Lounge which was just down the hall from our room.

Back in 2016 when we delivered Ryder, many staff knew who we were and our connection to the room. Now in 2022, it was a whole new staff and our staff room connection was now gone. No one knew until we told them. We had been made aware from a friend who frequents this floor at Duke that since Covid, the room has not been able to be be used for it’s intended purpose but rather as a staff area. I understand the strict policies and we are glad it’s still being used in some helpful capacity.

We connected with one nurse in particular, Jenny. It was kind of funny “breaking the ice” about our connection to that room. She was the main one we spoke to about it. When we shared our story, her eyes got big with amazement as she had no idea of our story or that we were the names on the door she passed by everyday.

It was through her that we were able to identify a current nurse manager on the floor to connect with about the room. She wasn’t on shift that weekend but we have her contact info. I just want to make a connection. Our hope is that one day the room can be restored to its initial purpose.

Nurse Jenny walked us down to the room on our last day. It was much different and yet elements of what I remember. Our story still hung on the wall and a piece of metal art I had picked out was still hanging. One section of it had been curtained off and was perhaps a pumping station for nurses as one was using it for that. We continued to tell our story and explain the room. It was really nice to connect with Nurse Jenny. She was very sweet and appreciative of what had been done. She also hopes the room can one day be restored and would love to be a part of that!

So that’s the big update with our family and what’s going on with the CWC room at Duke. I will be reaching out to Sara, the nurse manager, soon. I also have some video clips I’ll post of our speaking with Nurse Jenny!

-Caroline 💙💙💙

06/02/2022

When my water broke early at almost 18 weeks with my son Conner in the spring of 2012, I had never heard of PPROM (Pre-term Premature Rupture of Membranes) or known anyone else to experience it. Doctors told me to terminate but Conner’s heart was strong and I was otherwise healthy so we choose to remain pregnant to give him a chance. 8 weeks later he was born and we had less than a day with him. I’ll never regret trying everything I could for him. I’m in many support groups and PPROM babies DO survive and thrive! If you have any questions about PPROM, please let me know! 💙

06/26/2021

Several have brought this family to my attention. I see PPROM with just one twin a lot amongst the cases I follow. But there is hope. Let’s pray for little Ben and Nic! I will message the family today as well! 💙💙

I debated making this page, for personal reasons. But we wanted to share our story. Not only with our friends and family but maybe even a momma who is going through, will go through or has been through the same thing we are. We didn’t make this page for attention, or likes and shares, but for hope. Hope that comes from prayers and maybe even words of encouragement.

This is our story…

On March 19 (Treys Birthday) we found out I was pregnant! More than anything we wanted a little boy to complete our family and because Trey was way outnumbered. Fast forward to may, our first ultrasound, when the ultrasound tech told us she was seeing TWO babies!! We were scared, excited and just overwhelmed with emotions! On May 28th surrounded by a few family members we found out we were having TWO BOYS! Our household was gonna be an even 2 girls and 2 boys. We were over the moon happy, our girls were excited (especially Emory) and I couldn’t wait to take on this journey with my little family.

But through all this I was scared. I was terrified. I worried about complications. I’ve been through two pregnancies before and we had our problems with those but both my girls were healthy. However, something about me carrying two babies at one time just frightened me. All I could do was pray. And have faith. I was so scared I didn’t even want to share my pregnancy on Facebook until my doctor told me I was safe and not a risk for miscarrying. And when he told me the news, we posted! We shared with all of you that our twin boys would be arriving soon(on Father’s Day) We even shared their names.

But two days later (June 22nd) I woke up and had no idea my life would change drastically that afternoon.

It was a normal day like any other. Trey went off to work, me and the girls woke up and ate breakfast. I did some laundry. Emory had cheer camp that afternoon. Me and Sawyer went grocery shopping. It was a great day.. until I felt it. I knew it had happened. I was standing in sawyers room after just changing her diaper. My water had broke.

I immediately texted my husband, told him something wasn’t right. I was scared. He was scared. I called my doctor, he told me to get to his office right away. I rushed there as fast as I could, and that’s when I learned that one of our babies amniotic sac had a hole in it. This was when I learned of the term PPROM. Something I never heard of before in my life. I was told to go home and rest and drink fluids. Because my babies weren’t viable for life outside the womb at this time and there was nothing anyone could do.

I cried, alone, all the way home. I called my husband and cried. I called my momma and cried. And when I got home I got in bed and started googling. Because that’s what we do now right? The whole internet is right at our hands for these situations.

Through this I learned that this only happens to 3% of women. I learned that within 24hours I would go into labor and our babies would die. I learned that I only had a 1% chance of not going into labor.

I asked my momma to share this with all of our prayer warriors because at this point all we could do was pray. And more than anything have faith.

The next day I was seen by maternal fetal medicine doctor, who told me other than not having any fluid to protect him our baby boy was fine. And within a week I would probably go into labor. He also asked me if we would like to go ahead and induce the labor (termination of the pregnancy) and we said absolutely not. His heart rate was 157, and where there’s a heartbeat there’s HOPE!

It is possible that the hole could fix itself but it’s not likely. It’s also possible that I won’t go into labor, and our baby will grow and can survive outside of the womb, we just have FIVE more weeks to push through. We learned last night that A LOT of people are praying for us. We were anointed at our home church. Others were anointed on our behalf at there church. And most of our fears from this have gone because we have faith and hope that nothing more than a beautiful testimony is gonna come from what we are experiencing!

Please continue to pray for us daily. And follow our story! I’ll keep you all updated on Ben and Nic, they are little fighters and they can never have enough prayers going up for these sweet boys.
💙💙

-Trey & Nicole

(We’ve made it past our 24 hour mark!!)

06/02/2021

PPROM Awareness Days

When I experienced PPROM back in 2012, I updated everyone via blog posts. Below is my very first post after it happened.