ZAYDEN'S Journey w/ Spina Bifida
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This is the story of a young mother and child with Spina Bifida...
My name is Rhiannon and I'm 34wks pregnant. With a scheduled c-section June 4th.
This is how our journey began....
At my first check up (10 weeks) the ultrasound tech noticed something wrong with my uterus so they had me to see a Dr in Houston for further evaluation. At 20 weeks we saw our Dr in Houston and that’s where he tell me I have a didelphys unicornuate uterus and that my son has spina bifida. I was faced with the decision to either terminate the pregnancy or go on with it. I chose life.
He had an mri see if we were candidates for the fetal surgery. The results from the MRI were not what we expected. We find out he has the most severe form of spina bifida , myelomeningocele L-4 down and a chiari II malformation which is causing hydrocephalus. The myelomeningocele is an opening on her lower back that exposes the spinal nerves. This in turn causes the Chiari II which is where the spinal chord is pulling the brain down at the back of the skull which blocks fluid from draining properly. Because of the brain being pulled down it causes hydrocephalus which is a fluid build up in his brain. He also has moderate clubbing of both feet. After consulting with several doctors, surgeons and specialist at Texas Children's in Houston and extensive test to see if he was a candidate for fetal surgery we were informed that we weren’t because of my uterine abnormality. We are told he will have problems with walking and bowel and bladder issues., We won’t know the extent until he’s born. Spina bifida affects everyone differently in many different ways and our Lord can heal! He will have his back closure within 24hrs of being born. Then most likely have a shunt placed there after for the hydrocephalus.. His feet will be evaluated after the other surgeries. He will be in Texas Children's Hospital NICU level 4 and as he gets better he will be moved to the NICU level 2. We have a long road ahead of us after his birth and years to come. We are looking to be in Houston several weeks to possibly months after delivery.
It has been a strain on our family both emotionally and financially with weekly visits and post Harvey trying to rebuild our home and to hopefully be complete before baby Zayden gets to come home. Me and my mother will have to live in Houston until he can come home. My mother will be taking a leave from her job to be with me and Zayden.
We appreciate any support that could be given and ask for as many prayers for baby Zayden and Mom as possible. We will update as we take this journey. We will have a private Facebook page as well.
Thank you all!
My name is Rhiannon and I'm 34wks pregnant. With a scheduled c-section June 4th.
This is how our journey began....
At my first check up (10 weeks) the ultrasound tech noticed something wrong with my uterus so they had me to see a Dr in Houston for further evaluation. At 20 weeks we saw our Dr in Houston and that’s where he tell me I have a didelphys unicornuate uterus and that my son has spina bifida. I was faced with the decision to either terminate the pregnancy or go on with it. I chose life.
He had an mri see if we were candidates for the fetal surgery. The results from the MRI were not what we expected. We find out he has the most severe form of spina bifida , myelomeningocele L-4 down and a chiari II malformation which is causing hydrocephalus. The myelomeningocele is an opening on her lower back that exposes the spinal nerves. This in turn causes the Chiari II which is where the spinal chord is pulling the brain down at the back of the skull which blocks fluid from draining properly. Because of the brain being pulled down it causes hydrocephalus which is a fluid build up in his brain. He also has moderate clubbing of both feet. After consulting with several doctors, surgeons and specialist at Texas Children's in Houston and extensive test to see if he was a candidate for fetal surgery we were informed that we weren’t because of my uterine abnormality. We are told he will have problems with walking and bowel and bladder issues., We won’t know the extent until he’s born. Spina bifida affects everyone differently in many different ways and our Lord can heal! He will have his back closure within 24hrs of being born. Then most likely have a shunt placed there after for the hydrocephalus.. His feet will be evaluated after the other surgeries. He will be in Texas Children's Hospital NICU level 4 and as he gets better he will be moved to the NICU level 2. We have a long road ahead of us after his birth and years to come. We are looking to be in Houston several weeks to possibly months after delivery.
It has been a strain on our family both emotionally and financially with weekly visits and post Harvey trying to rebuild our home and to hopefully be complete before baby Zayden gets to come home. Me and my mother will have to live in Houston until he can come home. My mother will be taking a leave from her job to be with me and Zayden.
We appreciate any support that could be given and ask for as many prayers for baby Zayden and Mom as possible. We will update as we take this journey. We will have a private Facebook page as well.
Thank you all!
Organizer and beneficiary
Vanessa Simmons
Organizer
Vidor, TX
Vanessa Simmons
Beneficiary