Baby K

Very fortunately for us, but unfortunately we do not have the ability to call everyone that we know that cares for and loves us. With that said, this is the best way that we know how to get in touch with everyone that is concerned about the situation of things and to keep as many people up to date as possible without making anyone feel as thought they HAVE to know the situation.

With that said, the last 5 days have been the hardest, most trying days of our lives. During our 19 week ultrasound this past Thursday, we were notified that Baby K is a baby girl and at the same time were notified that there are a lot of complications and defects with our little girl. We were provided with basic information that the OB doctors were able to give us that there were some complications and we would have to see a high-risk specialist immediately. We visited the Perinetal Clinic the following day where where they took many more pictures of her which confirmed our little girl indeed had a lot of defects in her brain, heart, facial developments and hip developments and the prognosis is not good for her. An amniocentesis was performed and results received today confirmed that our baby is being affected by a rare but fatal chromosome issue (Trisomy 13 - Patau Syndrome. Can see http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1209.asp for more information or Google the syndrom and will get more information than you probably want!) that affects 1 in 16,000 babies. There is certainly a lot of information I have researched on the topic in the last few days and a lot of things that have overwhelmed us! But regardless, still remains a lot of unknowns and decisions that still have to be made in a short period of time. We have been told that it is a lose/lose situation for us, there is nothing that we can do to help her but have also been assured that there is nothing that we did or did not do to cause this pain for her either. It was a bad luck of the draw and with the diagnosis of the chromosomes we will not be deferred from having children in the future.

After our confirmation today of the reasoning for our angel girl's issues, we have set up a follow-up appointment with our specialist for Thursday afternoon where we will be able to get at least a few of our many questions answered. In the mean time, this news has devastated us and while we feel we are taking the appropriate steps to get through this together we also know that we a lot of love and support from all of our family and friends. It's the love, thoughts and prayers of all of you that will get our family through this very hard and trying time in our lives. We love you all and know that we have the greatest support system anyone could ever ask for from each and every one of you. Our Baby Girl is a fighter! She is stubborn just like her mommy and daddy, she knows that she is very loved and we will all get through this! Baby K has a lot of family "in the sky" that will take very, very good care of her. Great Grandma and Grandpa Kern, Great Grandma and Grandpa Simmons, Great Grandpa Seibert, "Grandpa" (Uncle) Steve, and Uncle Terry as well as many other family members that we have turned over to God will take very good care of her and she will always be our Angel Girl! We thank you all again for being our rocks and the skies will be brighter soon!

Love always,

Jay, Nita & Baby K