Krit
03-04-2010, 12:44 PM
Hi everyone,
I have already posted this on the new members board, but in case you don't check, here it is again!
My name is Krissy and I am 30 years old. I'm Canadian, but my husband Clay is British and with the military, so we travel around a lot - Germany, Cyprus - and are finally back in the UK. And I am going to be mom to a very special little guy.
In Germany in 2005 our first baby, Oliver, was diagnosed with L5 SB and hydro when I was 20 weeks pregnant. We were carefully monitored, but his ventricles just became worse and worse until it became obvious that his condition was going to be incompatable with life. He also had Chiari malformation and other ventricle problems that contributed to this diagnosis. We made the hardest decision of our lives and chose to end the pregnancy at 27 weeks. Oliver was beautiful... if there had been any way that we could have kept him, we would have. It broke our hearts.
We were blessed to have Samuel (almost 3) in 2007, and then Levi (1 1/2) in 2008. They are totally fantastic little boys and we adore them.
In December 2009 we were posted back to the UK, and because of all the beaureaucratic red tape and the total inability of the midwives to actually read my notes, they 'forgot' to schedule us a 16 week scan, even though I was considered 'high risk' because of Oliver.
Strangely, it wasn't a surprise when I finally had my 21 week scan in February that we heard those dreaded words again... 'I'm afraid we've found a problem.' This time, though, there wasn't any fear... I suppose we felt we had already been through the worst and knew our options and all the medical jargon.
I am almost 24 weeks pregnant with baby Reuben now. He has L4 SB, hydro, and enlarged ventricles. And we can't wait to meet him!!! The doctors don't see the same problems that his older brother had and his prognosis is so much better. We feel as in control of an uncontrollable situation as much as we can be.
What I really wanted to say was how wonderful this site is... I wish it had existed when we were having Oliver! Not only the kindness and generousity of all those that post on here, but also the wealth of knowledge just amazes me.
Since Reuben was diagnosed I have felt contentment - I know that we are making the right choice and giving him every opportunity that he can have. And now, since reading what so many of you have written, I feel something else - hope and happiness.
Thanks everyone!
xx Krit
Mom of Oliver (L5 SB, hydro, stillborn at 27 weeks), Samuel (3), Levi (1) and soon to be mommy to Reuben (L4 SB, hydro, due 28th June 2010)
I have already posted this on the new members board, but in case you don't check, here it is again!
My name is Krissy and I am 30 years old. I'm Canadian, but my husband Clay is British and with the military, so we travel around a lot - Germany, Cyprus - and are finally back in the UK. And I am going to be mom to a very special little guy.
In Germany in 2005 our first baby, Oliver, was diagnosed with L5 SB and hydro when I was 20 weeks pregnant. We were carefully monitored, but his ventricles just became worse and worse until it became obvious that his condition was going to be incompatable with life. He also had Chiari malformation and other ventricle problems that contributed to this diagnosis. We made the hardest decision of our lives and chose to end the pregnancy at 27 weeks. Oliver was beautiful... if there had been any way that we could have kept him, we would have. It broke our hearts.
We were blessed to have Samuel (almost 3) in 2007, and then Levi (1 1/2) in 2008. They are totally fantastic little boys and we adore them.
In December 2009 we were posted back to the UK, and because of all the beaureaucratic red tape and the total inability of the midwives to actually read my notes, they 'forgot' to schedule us a 16 week scan, even though I was considered 'high risk' because of Oliver.
Strangely, it wasn't a surprise when I finally had my 21 week scan in February that we heard those dreaded words again... 'I'm afraid we've found a problem.' This time, though, there wasn't any fear... I suppose we felt we had already been through the worst and knew our options and all the medical jargon.
I am almost 24 weeks pregnant with baby Reuben now. He has L4 SB, hydro, and enlarged ventricles. And we can't wait to meet him!!! The doctors don't see the same problems that his older brother had and his prognosis is so much better. We feel as in control of an uncontrollable situation as much as we can be.
What I really wanted to say was how wonderful this site is... I wish it had existed when we were having Oliver! Not only the kindness and generousity of all those that post on here, but also the wealth of knowledge just amazes me.
Since Reuben was diagnosed I have felt contentment - I know that we are making the right choice and giving him every opportunity that he can have. And now, since reading what so many of you have written, I feel something else - hope and happiness.
Thanks everyone!
xx Krit
Mom of Oliver (L5 SB, hydro, stillborn at 27 weeks), Samuel (3), Levi (1) and soon to be mommy to Reuben (L4 SB, hydro, due 28th June 2010)