As our journey into our third pregnancy this year dramatically changed on June 1st with some news of an Ultrasound, we've reached out to our family and friends for prayers, support, and love. Below is the story of how it all came about, and where we are at with our journey!
June 1st was a blur as I was sitting at my desk at work, when I received a phone call from my OB/GYN with results from my previous day's US where they measure the nuchal fold of the baby's neck to see if it was thickened (which could be a marker for Down Syndrome). I had actually forgotten that she was going to call me - so I hadn't prepared myself for any "bad news" that day - what I heard from her, was worse than I could have ever imagined. "Your baby doesn't just have a thick fold, its actually more like a Bubble - something we call Cystic Hygroma and it usually means that the baby has chromasomal abnormalities and most likely, you could miscarry this baby." What? How do you spell that again? So - I was referred to a high risk doctor in Peoria, to get confirmation of Cystic Hygroma.
A week later we were in Dr. Egley's office with a very high tech US machine, and he informed us that the hygroma was VERY large (12mm) and anything over 3mm was considered a concern. Babies with this large of a hygroma usually don't survive because it puts a lot of work on the heart muscle to pump the lymphatic fluid and if its not draining, the heart may eventually give out. What? We were again, stunned - we were hoping for some good news that day!
And so....that is what we were faced with at just 12 weeks gestation. Oh, and how the journey has continued.............
June 1st was a blur as I was sitting at my desk at work, when I received a phone call from my OB/GYN with results from my previous day's US where they measure the nuchal fold of the baby's neck to see if it was thickened (which could be a marker for Down Syndrome). I had actually forgotten that she was going to call me - so I hadn't prepared myself for any "bad news" that day - what I heard from her, was worse than I could have ever imagined. "Your baby doesn't just have a thick fold, its actually more like a Bubble - something we call Cystic Hygroma and it usually means that the baby has chromasomal abnormalities and most likely, you could miscarry this baby." What? How do you spell that again? So - I was referred to a high risk doctor in Peoria, to get confirmation of Cystic Hygroma.
A week later we were in Dr. Egley's office with a very high tech US machine, and he informed us that the hygroma was VERY large (12mm) and anything over 3mm was considered a concern. Babies with this large of a hygroma usually don't survive because it puts a lot of work on the heart muscle to pump the lymphatic fluid and if its not draining, the heart may eventually give out. What? We were again, stunned - we were hoping for some good news that day!
And so....that is what we were faced with at just 12 weeks gestation. Oh, and how the journey has continued.............
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 11:41 AM, CDT
A month long journey
So, its been nearly a month since the diagnosis of the hygroma and we've been to a few US since then.
On June 16th, I had an amniocentisis done to rule out any chromosome abnormalities with the baby - and to find out the sex of the baby too! 48 hours, we had the results of the test and we found out that we are adding a third BOY to the family and he is going to be born with some challenges, because he does have Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). I think Kevin was more shocked than me at the news, because I had already prepared myself for the high probabilty that this is what he would have. I did the reassuring that morning to Kev (which is ironic cause he's usually doing the reassuring to me): and said "it could be way worse, we could have gotten results that it was Trisomy 13 or 18 which would have meant it wasn't a viable life. At least, our baby boy will be able to be a normal child who can learn, talk, walk, play with his brothers, etc.. Now, we just have to focus on that hygroma and get it to go away, and see what kind of heart condition may have resulted."
Of course, we have our good days and bad days about our diagnosis - because I am worried one moment about DS and what that all means to our little boy, family, and lives - on the other hand, I know God only gives us the chance to be parents once in our lives and we make the best of whatever situations come our way. The fact that this little boy is so strong and such a fighter already, makes me believe that he is already a gift to our family and we can't wait to meet him!
We won't go back to Dr. Egley until week 24 which is sometime in August (what a long way away). At that time, he'll do a thorough US of the baby's heart and see if there are any defects or concerns. So that's what we need those prayers for.....pray for a healthy heart!! In the meantime, they will continue to monitor the hygroma and we hope that it resolves on its own:) If it does, that makes baby boy's prognosis much better! Prayers, prayers, keep them coming:)
On June 16th, I had an amniocentisis done to rule out any chromosome abnormalities with the baby - and to find out the sex of the baby too! 48 hours, we had the results of the test and we found out that we are adding a third BOY to the family and he is going to be born with some challenges, because he does have Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). I think Kevin was more shocked than me at the news, because I had already prepared myself for the high probabilty that this is what he would have. I did the reassuring that morning to Kev (which is ironic cause he's usually doing the reassuring to me): and said "it could be way worse, we could have gotten results that it was Trisomy 13 or 18 which would have meant it wasn't a viable life. At least, our baby boy will be able to be a normal child who can learn, talk, walk, play with his brothers, etc.. Now, we just have to focus on that hygroma and get it to go away, and see what kind of heart condition may have resulted."
Of course, we have our good days and bad days about our diagnosis - because I am worried one moment about DS and what that all means to our little boy, family, and lives - on the other hand, I know God only gives us the chance to be parents once in our lives and we make the best of whatever situations come our way. The fact that this little boy is so strong and such a fighter already, makes me believe that he is already a gift to our family and we can't wait to meet him!
We won't go back to Dr. Egley until week 24 which is sometime in August (what a long way away). At that time, he'll do a thorough US of the baby's heart and see if there are any defects or concerns. So that's what we need those prayers for.....pray for a healthy heart!! In the meantime, they will continue to monitor the hygroma and we hope that it resolves on its own:) If it does, that makes baby boy's prognosis much better! Prayers, prayers, keep them coming:)
