Today's news was bad. In fact, it was about as bad as we could have expected for today.
The baby does have a severe diaphragmatic hernia. It appeared from today's ultrasound that it is so severe that the entire stomach is in her chest cavity, leaving no room for her lungs to develop. The misplaced stomach has also displaced her heart, which is another concern.
The doctors also saw two other indicators or markers that lead them to believe that there is a good chance that the herniated diaphragm is not isolated but part of a greater chromosomal syndrome or disorder. Two such disorders that are a possibility are trisomy 13 and trisomy 18; these are both fatal.
Regardless, it seems from today's results that our baby's chances of life are slim. Even if we find it is not a chromosomal disorder she still may not survive the hernia because of its severity and the lungs' inability to develop properly.
We are reeling from the news. It's hard to believe how much we already love her and how much our hearts are breaking.
We know we serve a God who is loving and just. We do not understand what is happening or why right now, but we cannot lose faith and hope. We ask you to join us in praying for a miracle. A miracle is what we need. We also ask for your love and support and comfort as we grieve and cope and try to figure out how to react and respond to all of this news. She needs a miracle for a chance at life and we need a miracle to find peace in such hard times.
We will have an MRI next week to determine more precisely the extent of the hernia. We are also scheduling an echo-cardiogram to have a closer look at the baby's heart and its function. We will likely have an amniocentesis further into the pregnancy to learn details of any chromosomal disorder that may be present. We will also meet with a genetic counselor.
We will update more as we learn more and as we continue processing all of these emotions. We are not answering many phone calls and may not return your emails, but please know how meaningful they are to us. We are deeply grateful for your many varied expressions of love, support, and shared sadness to us. Your encouragement and your prayers, not only for Baby but for us, are what is carrying us right now.
Pray for miracles. Big and small. We are.
Praying to the God who is in the miracle business to bless you with one! Praying also for His love and peace to be enough to sustain you during this difficult time.
ReplyDeletePraying
ReplyDeletefor peace
for trust
for strength
for a miracle
A verse that means a lot to me:
Phil.4:6-7
Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In His love and care,
Phyllis
May god bless and keew u all in his hands through this all!
ReplyDeletePraying that you feel God holding all three of you in his arms.
ReplyDelete