andrew

Andrew's story begins in September 2000, when we first found out we were expecting. We were thrilled. I had a strange feeling from the start that there was something wrong, but I chalked that up to hormones. Everything went well until the AFP. It came back low. We needed to see a perinatologist. I couldn't get an appointment until after the holidays. So I worried throughout them. On January 5,2002 We had our first of many level 2 ultrasounds. During it they found clubbed feet, andenlarged kidneys. They could not get all of the anatomy so we needed to return in a few weeks. They suspected something and suggested an amnio. I was afraid to hurt the baby and decided to wait until I was 24 weeks pregnant. On Valentines Day 2001, I had the amnio done and an echo-cardiogram too. They could not see his heart well, so I need to see a pediatric cardioloigist.
   Eight days later I received the results of the amnio. It was a boy! But he had an unbalanced translocation of his chromosomes. It was called Monosomy 9p Trisomy 2q. The perinatologist had never see it so they sent us to a genetic specialist. There we learned that it was rare. They could not find any information on it. It wasn't until he was in Children's Hospital did we learn about this abnormality. The only thing we did know was that he would probably have some form of mental retardation.
   I had more ultrasounds and everytime I went things just got worse. His kidneys went from one being bad to both. His heart had a hole in it. His brain was cystic.
   In April, during an ultrasound they discovered the amniotic fluid was low. I was admitted to the hospital. I was released the next day. On April 27, during a non-stress test they checked my fluid and it was worse, even with bed rest. I was again admitted, but this time with intent to induce. I was 35 weeks.
They started with cervidil that night and piticion the next morning. Nothing happened all day. They gave me a little break and started the cervidil again that night. I started contracting real fast. They had to take out the cervidil and slow down the contractions. Sunday a.m. they started the piticion again. It worked this time. I went into labor. I had an epidural and an hour later I felt pain and the baby coming. Two pushes and he was out. He cried right away and the neonatologists took him right to the NICU.
   While in the NICU they realized his breathing was worse than they expected. He needed to be transferred to a Childrens Hospital 1 1/2 hours away. I was so scared for him. He had his eyes open there in the NICU as I was spending some time with him before he left for the other hospital. This was the only time we got to see his beautiful blue eyes.
    He made it to Children's hospital safely. Scott went there the next morning. I was still in the hospital until 8 p.m. that night. At Children"s hospital they did an CAT scan on him. We went to speak to the doctors the next day, Tuesday May 1. I was not expecting what happened next. We sat down with Andrew's neonatologist, a genetic doctor and a neurologist. They said that Andrew's CAT scan told them alot of things They confirmed his Monosomy 9p Trisomy 2q. They said that they did find other reports and the similar cases were total care and severe retardation. The neurologist concerns were Andrew's sloping forehead. His frontal lobe of the brain did not develop right. He was also missing the corpus collosum, It connects the both sides of the brain. His neonatologist said his lungs were hypoplastic, small still and didn't develop well. They said he would never get off the ventilator due to his lungs and brain problems. His kidneys were both abnormal , the left less than the right. He was not a canidate for a transplant. They asked us if we would like to take him off life support. I couldn't beleive it. They said he was such a sick baby that he should have never made it here and been a miscarriage. There was nothing I did to cause this to him. I still didn't feel better. They said it was just time until his kidneys failed. He was in pain now and I just couldn't imagine him going throught anymore pain. We decided to have our family come and meet him the next day and have him baptized. We went home and prepared for the worst day of our lives.
     On May 2, 2001. Andrew's big sister Kacie got to meet him before anyone else. She was a bit afraid of him laying there but soon wanted to kiss him and touch his toes. She liked holding his hand. Then the rest of his aunts, ancles, grandma and grandpa got to meet him. It was very emotional. The preist came in and baptized him. He wore a white one piece outfit. He was so small it was big on him but he looked so handsome. Then everyone said their goodbyes, and left. The doctors then came in and took him off the ventilator. They thought he would go right away due to the condition of his lungs. He was a fighter. He stayed with us for 5 hours. During that time Scott and I got to hold him and rock him. We told him all about his family and that he needs to be Kacie's little brother and antagonize her sometimes. I think he like being cuddled and talked to. Finally, he smiled then frowned and took his last breath. I knew that he went somewhere beautiful from his smile. I think his frown was that he didn't want to leave. I am grateful he gave us so much time with him. He is our hero.