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
