Update 6-26-07
First I have to say What an emotional roller coaster. Its coming up on 11 months since Ethan passed away, and even closer to his 1st birthday. I’ve been fighting emotionally with that lately, and now today I went to my doctor for a check up and found that I am now home on bed rest due to contractions and shortening in cervical length. It will be tough road ahead but I will survive.

 9-1-06

On July 31st we went into our doctor for a routine ultrasound. We were then told of all his birth defects, cleft lip, omphalocele, and some  thickening on the brain. We then left that doctor and went to the pediatric cardiologist, where they told us Ethan had a Atrioventricular Sepal Defect with disproportionately large right ventricle and pulmonary truck and evidence of moderate AV valve regurgitation. We also had an amino that day.

We then were sent home to make some decisions. They didn¹t say anything to me but Lethal, with all the problems that he had.  We decided to get a second opinion, which we did on Aug 3rd. They confirmed the same thing. The doctor called my previous Doctor and the amnio results were back with full trisomy 13. They then checked my cervix which was soft and starting to dialate (I had been having contractions for about 3 weeks.)I was already dialate to 2 1/2 cm and the contractions had been going on for a bit and they told me that I wouldn¹t be able to carry him much further. We then decided since we were 50 min away from the hospital that we would
then induce labor.

I have a history of pre-term labor and I knew what was happening with my body as far as the contractions and dilating. They did not tell me that I had to induce.. I made the decision on my own and asked them when they told me about my dilation and softening.  I would not have terminated my pregnancy or induced labor if it hadn¹t already started.  No way in heck!! If Ethan would have went to full term, we had made the decision not to do any kind of surgeries or life support.  Just make him comfortable.  I would have raised him just like my daughter given that he would have made it.  I
wish I could have had him at full term but my body was just not going to allow that.

Ethan Richard was born at 9:25 am on Aug 5 2006 , surrounded by all immediate family.  I held him until he passed away at 10:15am surrounded by all family. He weighed 1 lb 5 oz and was 11 1/2 inches long. Big for being 22 weeks 4 days gestation the doctors said. The immediate family left later that afternoon, and left the 4 of us alone.

My husband and I and our 2 year old daughter Abigail then took turns holding Ethan and saying our good byes knowing the funeral home was on its way. We also took the time to explain to Abigail where Ethan went.

We had a small family graveside service on Aug 9th 2006. That was the hardest past of saying good bye for me. Its so hard to believe that its all over, since I should still be pregnant. I did not find your site until after the fact. I also hate knowing there are so many of us out there that have had to experience this terrible disorder.

Thank you melissa
jmboone@mtcnet.net