Dear Dr. _______:
I apologize for how long this letter has taken to
write. I intended to get it to you
months ago, but four kids sure take up a lot of my free time!
An update….Owen Henry was born at 38 weeks 5 days on
December 28, 2012. He weighed in at 7
lbs 7 oz (our biggest baby!). And
somehow he already turned 4 months! Time
sure does fly! At his check up, he was
15 lbs 10 oz. and 25 inches. He is
currently meeting most all his milestones; loves to smile and roll around. Medically, he has some hearing loss, believed
to be due to fluid from his tiny ear canals.
He is getting temporary hearing aids this month and we will schedule him
for tubes once his ears are large enough.
His muscle tone is a bit on the low side, but other than that, he is not
any different that his siblings. We have
been so blessed to have another healthy child!
First, I would like to thank you for how you all handled
the time during our diagnosis. I cannot
imagine that this is a part of your jobs that you particularly love. To find anomalies during an ultrasound and
still continue on with your work is quite admirable. Although I began to recognize that something
was “off” I felt very comfortable knowing that information was being gathered
to care for baby and I in the best way. I apologize that the name of the
ultrasound tech has escaped me, but the day the nasal bone was not seen,
particularly, was one that I appreciated her professionalism, compassion and
kindness. She was always attentive at
appointments and it is appreciated.
Secondly, I very much appreciate how you approached the
suspicion of the Down syndrome diagnosis with me. I have heard horrific stories from my many
new friends about their experiences during the time of their prenatal or birth
diagnosis. I have been appalled with
some of the conversations they’ve been a part of and sad that they were not
provided the same medical care I was. In
reflecting on our conversation I believe you were giving me options without
saying them because I believe you knew me well enough as a patient that
termination would not be an option. For
that I am grateful. This was a
challenging season in my life and I am incredibly appreciative that I did not
have to also deal with the awful reality that seems to be more common than I
fully understood in a T21 prenatal diagnosis.
I also appreciated the assistance of the staff as I
switched practices to better serve Owen.
I am so very thankful that he did not have any further medical concerns
arise, but for the hearing/audiology alone, it has made for an easy transition
within the system. Owen did spend 6 days
in the NICU due to pulmonary hypertension and we were glad to have the
consistent care with the NICU doctors and our pediatrician. Not having a headache with the transition of
my paperwork and records was very nice.
Finally, I wanted to extend my help, support and/or
guidance to any moms who may find themselves in the world of Down
syndrome. I have found the community of
moms who’ve experienced what we have has been invaluable. If you ever come across a mom that would like
or needs support, I would be happy to talk with them. This has been a life-changing few months, but
life is a lot less different than I originally expected.
I began blogging shortly after our diagnosis and have
kept it current. If you would like to
see the diagnosis and birth experience through a family’s eyes, I’d encourage
you to check it out. Please feel free to
pass the blog address and my contact info to anyone that you feel may benefit
from it. I have many DS blogs linked on
my page, too.
My life in pregnancy years has come to a close (at least
I think it has!) and I am grateful for the support I received through your
practice over the years. After my first
miscarriage 10 years ago, I truly believed I may never get to experience
motherhood. Now, 4 kids later I am so
thrilled to have healthy, beautiful children.
Sincerely,
Me :)
