Danny & Rae's Story
Hattey Shea Gladden was hoped and prayed for for over 3 years. I will never forget the day I found out I was pregnant. My husband, Danny, and I believed that our child was a miracle and we were elated beyond words! This was my first preganancy and I was enjoying every minute of it! Thing seemed to be going along normally. We had 2 sonograms early on and everything seemed fine. It was music to my ears each month when I heard my baby's heartbeat. We had so many people excited for us!
Then, Danny and I went for our 5-month visit and sonogram; my step-son was there too. We were excited with anticipation to find out the gender of our baby. I sensed that something was wrong even thought the tech. tried to hide it. Unfortunately, I was right. My doctor had my step-son wait in the waiting room while he talked to us. Our hearts just sunk. We were told that our baby had an opening of the spine. They were unable to tell on the sonogram the gender of our baby.
We were referred to a specialist the next day. Then news was much worse than our baby might have Spina Bifida. There were so many other things discovered wrong on the Level 2 Sonogram besides an opening of the Spine. Our baby had numerous anomolies. Our baby only had one, dialited,non-functioning kidney, no bladder, the liver on the outside of the body, a small chest cavity, a clubbed foot and the intestines were in a sac herniated from the body. The amniotic fluid was low and seemed to be diminishing which was consistent with the non-functioning kidney, since it produces the fluid. All of the babie's other organs seemed misplaced as well. The doctor thought that perhaps this was due to the huge, dilated kidney "pushing" everything out of place.We had an Amniocentesis done to check the chromosomes and to find out the gender of our baby. The doctor gave us no hope, but we went for a second opinion. We basically got a confirmation, but he ordered a Fetal MRI. We found out from the amniocentisis that we had a baby girl.The MRI explained why the doctors were unable to tell the gender of our baby by Sonogram. It was because she her female genitalia were malformed and she had no anus. This doctor said that she would have to have a minimum of 6 surgeries at birth by a minimum of 5 specialists. Her main concern though was her small chest cavitiy and lack of amniotic fluid. There wasn't enough fluid left at this time to do another amniocentesis if needed. The fluid continued to diminish and were knew it was just a matter of time until we lost our baby girl. We first found out of Hattey's problems on June 27, 2001 and I went into labor on July 24, 01. I delivered her 34 long hours later at 6:00pm July 25, 2001. It was the saddest day of my husbands' and my life! Hattey weighed 1lb. 14 oz and was 12 inches long. I was apporximately 26 weeks pregnant when I gave birth. Her little face was beautiful and perfect, but all of her other anomalies were there. My husband, our families, and some friends got to spend time with Hattey and hold her. My husband and I had about 6 hours with her even though she was stillborn and it was just her "body" we held and kissed her and it was a very special time with our baby girl.
About 6 weeks after we buried her we got her final autopsy results. She was diagnosed with Cloacal Exstrophy Sequence or OEIS. It is extremely rare, only 1 in every 100,000. It is nice to have something to pinpoint all of Hattey's problems too, but it is hard not to ask why our baby that we had wanted and anticipated for so long had to be one! There are so many parents out there that have the honor and priviledge of having children and they do not want them, or mistreat, abuse, neglect, and give their children away. I can still hardly believe she isn't with us. She was due November 17, 01.
Hattey means, "Footprints in the Sand". Danny and I could not have survived this heartbreaking loss without God carrying us through it and Hattey's footprints will forever be imprinted on our hearts and in our lives. We also couldn't have done it without all of the love, support, and prayers of our Christian friends and families. I am thankful that my precious baby girl is in Heaven playing in God's Garden with other special baby angels, and sitting at the feel of Jesus without any pain, suffering, or sadness.
Love in Christ,
Hattey's Mom
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