And there we are. Our planned 20 week ultrasound. A day we've been looking forward to because we're going to find out the sex this time AND (more importantly) we get to see our baby on screen again. Delightful.
And then the ultrasound tech says: "I'm just going to show the doctor these images, to make sure I've taken all the photos I need." And I think: "Oh no, you're not. Something's wrong."
And something is. And in comes the doctor to probe some more. And he throws out words like "growth" and "mass" and "spina bifida". And it gets difficult to breathe.
And they whisk us over to the Women's Pavilion for a fetal assessment. And 3 more people probe at my belly and look at images and take photos.
It turns out our little baby boy has a giant tumour on his back. And I sit here not knowing what to type after that - except that I know this. We need prayers and lots of them because God can do miracles and we are expecting nothing less at this point.
They know very little right now. They know that he has a tumour on his back and that it is big but they've never seen one in this location and they have no idea if it will grow or if it will just stay the same size. At this point he's healthy in every other way. He is kicking and his lungs and brain and heart are all functioning perfectly well. He doesn't seem the least bit bothered by the tumour at this point. (They are relatively confident that it's NOT spina bifida as they would likely see affects on the brain if it were.)
And now we enter the "wait and see" game. They don't anything and we know even less. We are seeing the pediatric surgeon next Thursday and a geneticist on Monday. (If things stay as they
are our baby will have to have surgery shortly after coming out - hence the surgeon.) We also have to go for an MRI but that has not yet been booked.
What else can I tell you? I guess our prayer is that the tumour either disappear entirely (the miracle) or that it not grow at all and not affect our baby at all (that's one of the biggest concerns - that it grow at too rapid a pace and then also affect the baby and his organs and puts his life at risk).
And, we've decided that we will create a bit of a blog with updates. That way you can keep as informed as you want to. Who knows, maybe the blog will only last a few weeks because the news will be so good so quickly.
And the other thing is, we have named him. Because we need to. Because he is our son. His name is Jackson Louis. You can call him Jack. Because he is our "gracious gift from God".
Cynthia, J-L, Abigail and Jack
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14 comments:
Oh, hon. I'm praying for you and for sweet little Jack. (And the rest of the fam, too.) Do you mind if I put a prayer request for you on my site?
Cynthia, J-L, Abigail and Jack
We want you to know you are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you guys!
Love always: Mark, Amanda, Tyson, Hunter and Gavin
praying and praying, and believing.
I'm praying hard! Come on, little Jack, we're all rooting for you...
What a courageous mother little Jack has! I have read this post 3 times because I love listening to your voice. Your confidence. Your love.
Sending prayers for little Jack...and that I can glean some of your faith just by hanging around here.
praying for you on this end of the country too....
When I read Heather's post, I had a terrible feeling that something had gone wrong with your doctor's appointment.
I'll be praying for Jack every day, and for the doctors who will be tending to him over the next several months.
Love you.
I am a regular reader of Heather's, and I wanted you to know that I am praying with all my might that Jack and your family have a healthy and safe journey to each other.
A gracious gift of God he is. What a beautiful name for such a beautiful boy. With all this reading/thinking/praying/meditating about Jack I feel like I know him and his personality - is that really weird? The way I know him, he's like this:
strong - emotionally, physically and spiritually - especially physically and spiritually;
you know when he's in the room - you sense his strength, confidence and awareness even before you see or hear him;
I keep thinking of the two Bible verses that describe Jesus and Samuel. Here they are:
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52)
"And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men." (1 Samuel 2:26)
And so, Lord, may the boy Jack continue to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and with people.
I am not a religious man, that being said no one wants for a little baby to suffer, nor the family at hand. All I ask is you make your decisions based on science and what can be done for the benefit of Jack. There is more at stake than just Jack, the health and welfare of your daughter, husband and of course yourself. Think long-term, how will you life be adversely affected? Stress on the family, stress on your daughter, and the most important the stress on Jack possibly growing up only knowing a sterile and only white rooms, not playing outside due to possible infections etc. Will the ailment affect him later in life?? Will it affect him in his teens? in his twenties when he should be dating and building his career. Just make an informed decision based on science and not on the expectation of your God and what he is expecting of you.
Since I don't know you and I hardly know Heather, whose blog I came here by (having only visited her blog twice, once being today) I tread carefully in your space and on your ground... I have a story of friends in a similar situation whose story ended with the birth of a healthy little boy, which I know is no guarantee of a healthy boy for all parents in similar situations but still, there is much to be hopeful about...
may you know grace, strength and peace in this time of uncertainty, and may jack become a strong, handsome, resilient and courageous little man
I'm Nichole's sister-in-law, Chloe, and we'll keep you and your family in our prayers. (Romans 5:1-5 .....the love of God has been poured out in our hearts...)
Mark & Chloe Walker
Hello, I am a reader of Korey and
Wendy's blog and since she has petitioned prayer on your behalf I wanted to let you know I will be praying. I don't know you at all but I will pray for God's peace, healing, and wisdom.
Lori
Dear Cynthia and JL...Donna sent me here and I just want to tell you that I will be praying for your gracious gift from God, named Jack..
It brings tears to my eyes as I read this first post..
I will read the rest of you posts too and will keep checking for the good news....From Terry of Southern Ontario Canada..
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