Run for Grace

We found out in early Feb 2020 that we were expecting our 3rd child. With covid 19 headlines causing so much stress and anger to so many family’s we finally had amazing news to celebrate. So at 12 weeks Louise went in for her 12 week scan alone and me and the kids waited outside in anticipation. Louise arrived back soon after with scans of our little baby. With Covid dominating the headlines and putting so much pressure on family lives we had our milestones to keep us going and keep us smiling. At 20 weeks I dropped Louise to the hospital and we were full of excitement to see how our little baby had progressed. Due to Covid 19 restrictions I waited outside while Louise went in for the scan. Soon after my phone rang and Louise was crying down the phone saying it’s not good news it’s not good news. My heart sank I asked could I go into louise but I was not allowed. Louise arrived out shortly after and her eyes where empty. I held Louise and she was broken. Louise then had to explain to me exactly what she was still trying to process herself that our little girl had a rare disease called triploidy meaning she will not survive outside Louise’s womb. What was meant to be a day of celebrating had now turned into the worst day of our lives with worst days ahead. In the weeks after we had got second opinions and tests redone and lived in hope every time that the news would be different but it was the same. Our hearts were broken. We were sad, angry, broken and so many other emotions while also trying to stay strong for each other and Josh and Katie. We met the consultants in the Coombe after all the Re testing and second opinions so they could speak to us on what exactly triploidy means for our baby girl and what risks are attached to continuing the pregnancy for Louise. It was explained that we would have to choose very soon if we were going to terminate the pregnancy or continue until grace decided herself that it was time to leave us behind. We left the hospital broken hearted how could we make this decision. Myself and Louise knew the risks but Grace was our baby girl, we also knew we had to consider risks to Louise and if anything happened to Louise how this would effect josh and Katie. This is a decision no family should ever have to make. We spoke about this all weekend and decided we were going to put of making any decision for a few weeks and see how our little angel progressed. We would then get another scan and talk to the consultant and see if she was strong enough to get through labour and meet us for a few moments so we could tell her to go while in our arms. We battled and battled with what was the right thing to do and on Monday morning after the weekend Louises waters went and our baby girl took the decision out of our hands. One week later our baby girl Grace Esther Ryan was born sleeping on 20/06/2020. I was so proud of Louise and our little angel Grace so perfect in every way. We took Grace home the next day as it was important that Grace got to stay in our home and meet everyone including her big brother and sister. Grace has made such a impression on our lives and we will never be the same again. There is a whole in our hearts that can never be filled. What we haven’t mentioned in our story is how the coombe and there team helped us get through these very tough times. No family’s should ever have to go through what we went through but unfortunately the reality other family’s will experience the very same pain we have experienced. The team was by our side every step of the way and they continue to support and check in on us from time to time. The support network they have in place is what got us through these tough times and without it we would be in a very dark place now. The love, compassion and support they gave us is why we are organising this Run for Grace. We hope to raise 30k for the coombe women’s hospital to ensure these networks are in place for when other family’s have to deal with what we went through. Graces original due date was the 19th of October, so on the 17th of October I will be jogging and Louise will be cycling from our home in Rathcoole to the women’s Coombe maternity hospital and back. This is a 30k round trip. We will both call to the Coombe on the 19th Graces due date and with your help hopefully make the 30K donation. Thanks you all for your donation.