It was Thursday afternoon on February 26, 2009. I was driving home from the mall when I received a call from my Obstetrician. When I saw her number show up on my phone I knew it couldn't be good news. I had just had my AFP levels drawn 2 weeks prior (AFP stands for alpha feto protein and is a blood test that measures protein and hormone levels which can help determine if a baby is at risk for having Down Syndrome, neural tube defects or other chromosomal defects) and knew if she didn't call everthing would be fine, but she did. She told me my AFP test came back positive and that our baby had a 1 in 44 risk for possibly having Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome, a rare chromosomal abnormality which is a condition essentially incompatible with life. The children have a wide range of multi-system anomalies which can include heart defects, brain defects, webbed hands, rocker bottom feet, kidney problems, cleft lift and palate, the head may be small with low set ears, just to name a few of the problems these children have. As she was telling me the information, my mind drifted back 2 1/2 years prior to an experience I had while I was working in the nursery. I was called to a delivery to a baby born with an unknown diagnosis of Trisomy 18. I remembered the CPR I had to initiate to this poor little deformed baby while thinking and praying that our savior would take this broken child home with him. The child ended up dying after 3 days.
She told me that my next step was to set up a Level II Ultrasound with a Perinatologist and that an amniocentesis would also be an option. After hanging up the phone with my doctor I pulled over to the side of the road and sobbed. I couldn't escape the images of that poor baby and the grief his parents were experiencing, and just knowing that I may be carrying the same type of child was too much to bare. When I got home I told Shane the news. We went to the internet and did lots of research where we found that there was a high false positive rate for AFP results. We also found comfort to know that the odds were on our side. 1 in 44 meant that my risk was only a 2.2% chance that our baby actually had the disorder. Needless to say, we did a lot of soul searching and a lot time praying. I don't think I prayed so hard in my life.
The following Tuesday we had our appointment with the Perinatologist. The ultrasound showed a normal baby girl. We found so much relief in that visit, but opted to go ahead with the amniocentesis to confirm the diagnosis. The results took 7-10 days which were the longest days of my life! Finally, yesterday, on the 10th day, Friday, March 13 we received our amnio results. The doctor called me at work and told me she had good news and that Shane and I were having a healthy baby girl and the amnio was negative! I just started crying and thanking my doctor over and over again, and then she started crying! What an amazing relief! And who said Friday the 13th was an unlucky day???
Shane and I feel so blessed and thankful that our prayers were answered. We had so many thoughts and prayers extended to us and we couldn't be more grateful. Thank goodness for our sweet little blessing! In just 2 weeks my love for this sweet angel has grown into something so special and I just can't wait for her to arrive and be able to share this love with her.
