Name: Jody
Due Date: July 22, 2008
Expecting: A Surprise!
In October of 2004, I gave birth to a very healthy baby boy. He was so healthy, in fact, that he weighed 10 lbs 14 oz at birth. In December of 2006, my husband, Jeremy, and I announced our second pregnancy. We were happy to share the exciting news at Christmas with our families.
My friend Heidi and I were so excited for each other, as we were to be due 11 days apart and many of our friends and relatives were also pregnant with us.
Everything was going fine with my pregnancy until I went in for my 28 week appointment. I was rushed to the hospital due to extremely low amniotic fluid. At the hospital, everything looked good, but I had to remain in the ante partum wing until my fluid increased or I delivered.
Weeks went by and my amniotic fluid did not increase, but by all accounts the baby seemed healthy. Never were we told that the baby would not survive, as she presented well on my daily ultrasounds.
I was on bed rest in the hospital for a month before the doctors decided it was time to deliver our baby. We chose the special day of June 19, 2007 for our baby to be born, which is the birthday of my only sister. My sister said she was excited to share her birthday and celebrate with our baby every year.
On June 19, 2007, at 8:01 AM, at 32 weeks, I gave birth via planned C-section to a little baby girl, Adeline Lori. She weighed 4 lbs 7 oz. Adeline was the only name we had picked out for a girl and her middle name, Lori, is my mom’s name. My mom wept at the hospital when she heard we had named Adeline after her.
Adeline was immediately rushed to the NICU. We thought everything was going to OK with Adeline, as at 3:00 PM she was in stable condition, but by evening the Neonatologist realized Adeline was not going to make it. The doctors and nurses hand-bagged her for almost five hours after she stopped responding to the ventilators. No one wanted to give up on Adeline and say good bye to our sweet little girl.
I lost my her little girl less than 24 hours after having her. We said good bye to her for now and our hearts would be forever broken. The loss of Adeline was devastating for me, my husband and our friends and family. It was so sudden and unexpected. The sight of Adeline losing the battle over her life here on earth and dying in my arms is a clear picture in my mind, one I will never forget.
Uncertain of the cause of death, an autopsy was ordered. After seven weeks, an autopsy report came back which showed Adeline had died from a rare genetic kidney disease called Renal Tubular Dygenesis. This disorder is unable to be detected, except by microscope. The baby will appear healthy until noticeable amounts of fluid are gone, sometime after the 20th week.
After much debate, we decided to have one more try. Right before Thanksgiving 2007, we found out we were expecting another baby. This was a pleasant surprise, but also very frightening at the same time. This is our last attempt at another baby due to the risks, and I would be lying to say we are not scared.
It was a hard decision for us, but we desperately want another child. This pregnancy has not been easy, but we are hopeful. At 8 weeks, I had some minor complications, which were not threatening, but terrifying to someone with my past.
I am now 18 weeks and am doing my best to trust that all will all right with our baby. We are tying to stay positive that we will in fact have a healthy baby. And we are excited to meet him or her in July!
On what winning the Baby Shower gift package would mean to her…
It would mean the world to me! I had no idea my good friend, Heidi, had nominated me for this special event, and I was very touched. I am blessed to have a wonderful friend like her, who thought, “I have to nominate Jody for this, as her baby story needs to be told!”
She told me she could not think of anyone more deserving after the tragic year my husband and I had in 2007. I am excited to share our story. Life is full of surprises and this surprise truly made my day!
I am honored to have been selected as one of the ten finalists. Obviously, 2007 was a tough year for us, so winning the baby shower package would be a wonderful surprise.
