RESOLUTION

AUGUST 29, 2012

Hurray! I was very grateful to God. He blessed us so much with people who were willing to help us with your problem. There were a lot of prayer warriors who helped us increase our faith in God especially in this time of distress. Lola had found a pediatric surgeon in our place with the initiative and the helped of Doctor Chona Carpio, the wife of my first cousin, Nelson.

To our family and friends, we were so very thankful for the prayers that you all had lifted up. We asked that you continue to pray hard for those tests. We continue to get words from people whom we have never even met.  We were truly blessed. From the bottom or our hearts, thank you. 
 

 POSSIBLE PROBLEMS FOR THE SURGERY

On the other hand, Aunt Berna and I spent days researching information on children with omphaloceles (SCARY as you may already know), omphalocele repairs, and  best hospitals.

 It would be difficult for us to travel from other places like Manila or Cebu just to resolve your problem. The travel, accommodation and  finances are  the major constraints to consider. Follow ups for your surgery would be troublesome due to the distance, too.

  Indeed, God used other people to be our angel. Dr. Chona advised Lola Odette what will be the initial things to be done without asking reward in return. 

We will be visiting the Madonna and Children’s Hospital where Dr Chona was working soon as we arrived home. It would the best place for me to give birth and to undergo your surgery. 

I also spent days trying to find a place where I could talk to other mother's of omphalocele children...the blogs or forums were very limited. I need a place to vent, ask questions, laugh, and cry when I need to without pressure or fear. 

         I love you baby. We were all happy now. Indeed very happy because bit by bit our problems were solved.

Papa was also preparing the necessary things for our big leap. He saved money for the upcoming surgery. He also prepared your room. He made it sure you will be comfortable when you stay there. 

STUBBING SWORD

AUGUST 22, 2012

The call of Aunt Berna disturbed the silence in the office. She was happily reporting to me that she received the good news from the SGH.  You are NORMAL!! The amniocentesis result went well in just about 10 working days. 

Praise God! I am relieved now. I was so excited to call papa and our family overseas. I had reported the big good news to them. She told me that I must be very extra careful now that we level up in our accomplishments. Our thorns of worry where slowly removed.

            I was excited  to see doctor this 27th of August considering I had not confirm your gender yet. I was also looking forward to get your printed data from your doctor regarding your amniocentesis and to resolve the lump mystery in your tummy.

            I still continued to eat iron rich foods and other nutritious foods. I could felt also that you were frequently kicking and playing inside my tummy. You were more active at night than in the morning. I prayed that you will be healthy and wishing you all the best.

Grow well. Be happy. We were excitedly waiting for you.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOU   

    

Your sensory developments were exploding! Your brain was designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that you may be able to hear my voice now. So often I talked to you. We listened to music. I placed the headphone to my tummy in order you can hear papa’s voice each time talked on line. I was not shy singing a happy tune to you if the mood stroke me.

You weighed about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about a size of a heirloom tomato. Your arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of your body now. Your kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on your scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on your skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-19-weeks_1108.bc?intcmp=timeline

AUGUST 27, 2012

This day is the most exciting day.  We visited again Dr. Tan to reveal the lump mystery in your tummy. So, I and aunt Berna went to the hospital. I was examined again, but this time the examination in the laboratory was too long. I may fell asleep because the sonographer did a very detailed check-up on you. Aunt Berna was a bit anxious considering she had still a work on that day, and she doesn’t want to be absent. The check-up consumed an hour. Then we waited another half hour in the queue in order we can see Dr. Tan for the conference.

After a long time of waiting, we finally met him. We all seated comfortably, exchanging our happy moods.  Dr. Tan congratulated us for the successful amniocentesis and all of the result was normal. However the atmosphere suddenly changed when we received some devastating news from him. 

You were diagnosed of having omphalocele, a rare and serious birth defect. I was flabbergasted yet I listen carefully to his explanations. It was a birth defect in which the intestine or other abdominal organs stick out of the belly button (navel). The intestines were covered only by a thin layer of tissue. Aunt Berna asked its prognosis of your lump. He replied sadly, “Poor.”

 The prognosis was considered poor with the chances of additional problems such as cardiac defects. Omphalocele is a life-threatening condition that needs immediate treatment. It needs to be treated soon after birth so that the baby’s organs can develop and be protected in the belly. Termination was a considered a reasonable option and suggested by the doctor; yet he laid to us the decision whether to continue the pregnancy or to terminate it. If we use to continue, a major surgery must be done right after your birth. I must undergo cesarean section to protect your internal organs that stuck out from your belly button. 

In my side, I was speechless as if there is a lump in my throat. I was getting emotional. Aunt Berna and the nurse tried to comfort me. They were holding and patting my shoulder gently as if everything was fine. My thoughts run wildly yet I remained my composure. “No matter what will happen, I must be objective in my decision,” my thoughts whispered. I further asked whether this situation may affect your brain and your health as well in the future. He replied, “Cognitive wise it has nothing to do with it; nevertheless your health must be based upon how you response to the surgery. A lot of things would be then inevitable because we only relied on his coping mechanism after your surgery.” 

I my heart squeezed. I pitied you. I was in teary eyed. The doctor held my left cheek saying all the best in us. He will be respecting whatever decisions we had. He knew that Filipinos were pro life. After the conference, I burst my tears in the toilet room. I couldn’t afford to lose you. You were so special to me and I loved you. I am willing to give up everything just to bring you to life normally, healthy and happily. At this point my sister can’t stay long to me considering she had work to attend – her bread and butter. So we parted our ways with a heavy heart.The doctor gave me all your data considering we will be going back to Philippines. I can't gave my delivery here in this foreign land because my care group was overseas. 

As soon as I arrived home, I can’t helped but to cry and asked the question "why me, why I am one in 5,000?" I immediately called my family for comfort. We chatted on line, expressing my devastation. They were worried and crying. Luckily majority of my support group had faith in God that encouraged me to move on. The immense supports of our friends here in Singapore and the incredible web-based support group also rekindle my hope that I will carry on you. I believed in God’s power though I can’t see it. I knew He worked in very special way. I was not crying anymore. I continued to listen God’s praising songs and to read inspirational stories.

We continued to pray that you will have a very successful operation and you may live normally, happily and healthy. We love you baby.

“For you created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
When I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
Were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139: 13-16

Furthermore, it is confirmed that your gender is a male!

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOU

              You weighed about 10 1/2 ounces now. You were also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. You were swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. You also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-20-weeks_1109.bc?intcmp=timeline

MEDICAL PROCEDURES ON THE GO

JULY 28, 2012

     Aunt Berna and I visited SGH again. Suppose today was my amniocentesis schedule, instead I was advised to visit a genetic counselor. The doctor never continued the procedure considering I had vaginal bleeding for previous days. It would be dangerous for the baby because miscarriage will likely to occur.

      In the office of the genetic counselor, we were given substantial information regarding the amniocentesis procedure. The counselor made sure that we understood what was going to happen. She discussed the actual chromosomes that were going to be looked at, how much amniotic fluid was going to be taken out, how the procedure was going to be performed, and I had to sign waivers that stated how to take care of myself after the procedure and precautions to take when the amniocentesis was over.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOU

You are 15 weeks now.Your measurement now is about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). You are busy moving amniotic fluid through your nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Your legs are growing longer than your arms now. You can move all of your joints and limbs. Although your eyelids are still fused shut, you can sense light. For instance, if we shine a flashlight at my tummy, you likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for you to taste at this point, but your taste buds were forming. http://www.babycenter.com/303_11-weeks_1615699.bc

AUGUST 6, 2012

      Today was my amniocentesis schedule. I was ready and relax. Your aunt Bernadette was with me in the room. I was laid in bed, the doctor checked you as he placed you in the best position in order you will not be hurt as the big needle will be poke in my tummy.  Every single parts of your body were measured. You were 17 weeks old now! I asked my doctor whether the lump grew together with you. It was true that it did grow along with you! I was sad of the news yet still hopeful for its answer. 

The doctor was straight face. I was asked to take my shirt off and put on a gown and then they began an ultrasound to observe where the baby was located in order to perform the procedure safely. My entire stomach was swabbed with betadine (to sterilize) and the doctor came in to begin the amniocentesis. He encouraged me to close my eyes and told me to remain calm throughout the procedure. Other than the personnel in the room, my sister who was openly wide awake to see the every inch of the doctor’s movement. You were monitored in the big screen, so everybody can see the things that happen inside you. I closed my eyes, toke a deep breath and then the doctor poke the needle to my tummy towards the placenta.  I felt pain.  It did hurt and I tried to stay calm but it was a little difficult.

I don’t know what happen then. After the procedure, my sister told me everything. The needle was long and very thin. She watched everything on a television screen from the needle going in. The needle was just a hand reaching for my baby. The baby was kicking several times. Then, the amniotic fluid was extracted from it eventually you calmed down. 

All of a sudden I felt a tightening of my abdomen and I was told that I had just had a contraction which raised my placenta stopping the removal of fluid. I was reassured that this happen. We had to wait the full 2 weeks for our results. 

Before I left the office, the assistant nurse gave me a list for me to remind myself after the procedure. These 4 things were: CALL your doctor immediately if: 1) There is a leaking of water (that is amniotic fluid leaking) 2) Bleeding (A gush of blood like I got my period) 3) A fever 4) Intense cramping and pain.

Furthermore, I was advised to rest for an hour before going back home. Upon arrival, I must have a complete bed rest for 6 hours. I was prohibited to do extraneous work, lifting heavy objects, or do any activities that entailed to exert more effort.

Today, I spent 4 wonderful rest days. I had a wonderful time chatting to our family overseas, ate nutritious foods, drank lots of water, listening to music, and reading on-line articles. In these few days, I could receive your amniocentesis result which the SGH mailed to us. I was happily waiting for your result. 

By the way, you had a name now. We called you RUSVER, meaning an elixir of courage. 

All the best in you baby.

Grow well my little peanut. We love you baby.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOU

Your skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — your lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. You’re weighs 5 ounces now ( about as much as turnip), and you are around 5 inches long from head to bottom. You can move your joints, and your sweat glands are starting to develop.http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-17-weeks_1106.bc?intcmp=timeline