Baby Bridget Update

Todd and I had a good day yesterday and are feeling positive for the first time since this whirlwind began. We received a call that the full karyotype that looks at all of the baby's chromosomes in detail came back NORMAL! So the only other genetic test we're waiting on is the microarray analysis that identifies chromosomal abnormalities, including submicroscopic abnormalities that are too small to be detected by conventional karyotyping. (This is all way over my head...) So that's the final piece of the genetic puzzle and hopefully we'll hear (good) news on that later this week.

We also went to Atlanta for a second opinion on Bridget's kidney and other issues. Perhaps the best part of the visit was seeing that she does NOT have the choroid plexus cysts on her brain, her neck size is normal and her bowel is fine! So 3 of the 4 concerns are gone....in ten days! (So were they ever there or did everyone's positive vibes and prayers help them go away? We'll never know - we weren't actually shown the problems on the first u/s and were relying on the doctor's analysis of the scans so we can't know. And frankly, I don't care. I'm just thrilled they're gone!)

We learned more about her kidney defect, but it sounds promising. She either has one large cyst in her left kidney, a urinoma or an extra kidney that's gone haywire (this is my obviously nonmedical interpretation of what the doc said). The doctor was able to spot some normal left kidney tissue, which is really positive news, so it's possible she has some function in her left kidney but we won't know until she's born! We'll meet with the pediatric urologist at CHOA in a few weeks or so and continue monitoring the kidney until she's here. There are still hurdles to getting her here so I'll go for ultrasounds ever 2 weeks to keep an eye on her - there are possible interventions that will be needed while she's in utero but we're hoping to avoid those. For now it's wait and see and hope for the best! We really need her right kidney to keep working properly so please keep the prayers coming!

Thank you again to all for reaching out and for sending your prayers and positive energy. It means more than we can adequately express! xo