Tate Family Fund
Donation protected
Trace’s Story:
What started out as a normal pregnancy to me turned very fast. At my 20 week anatomy ultrasound they told me they couldn’t get pictures of the babies kidneys. They would need me to come back, I was scheduled at 24 weeks for the follow up ultrasound. They stated that Trace’s Kidneys were echogenic (bright)and large. The ultrasound showed that I was also low on amniotic fluid. I was referred to a maternal fetal specialist at pinnacle. That is where we found out that Trace has polycystic kidney disease. This is a genetic disease that he got from both Andrew and I having the recessive gene. This is also the reason why my fluid was low in the beginning.
The doctor told us at pinnacle that it would be a long Road and that I would need to deliver where there was a NICU. Fast forward to September 11th, I decided that I wanted to get a second opinion at hmm Hershey. I was thinking since it was a children’s hospital and closer to home it would be great. Our experience there was not good. They told us We could Terminate our baby at 29 weeks in a different state. As a mother I would have never given up with that answer. I read an article about CHOP; Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia. I decided that I would try one more place and then go from there.
September 28th We went to CHOP. I had a 2 1/2 ultrasound that showed everything. Trace had an echo to check his heart and then met with an amazing doctor. She stated that he obviously had this disease but that Trace was looking good otherwise. His kidneys look very large on the ultrasound but other then that he was growing and other organs looked good. Babies with this disease have trouble with hmm lung maturity, having his belly be enlarged because his kidneys are so big and problems with their heart structure and function because everything is being squished. The doctor said his heart is structurally and functionally good. She told us that we needed to deliver Trace in their special delivery unit so that he would be in the best place for help right away. CHOP has dealt with babies like this before and they Know what to expect. I was told that I would have a normal delivery and that there would be 25 people in the room next to me with Trace.
I will continue to follow at CHOP weekly so they can measure my fluid closely. It has been varying, between 2.0 and 4.8. I will deliver Trace between 35-37 weeks. We are hoping to keep him in as long as we can so that he can continue to develop his lungs.
We have to relocate because they want me to be there in Philly if I go into labor. I will be there as long as I need for Trace and we are hoping for family and friends to visit as well. This will be life changing for us and Owen, but through thoughts and prayers we will make it through. So we are just asking for lots of prayers for our bundle of joy ❤️
Trace Alan Tate was Born on Monday October 14th 2019 at 5:36pm 5 pounds 2 ounces 18 1/2 inches. Megan was only 33 weeks 5 days but Trace had his own plan. She delivered at Harrisburg Hospital closest hospital with a NICU. Trace took his first breath and cried 3 times before they took him away. They stabilized him and prepared him for his first helicopter ride. The CHOP flight team came to pick him up. He arrived at CHOP around 10:45pm. Andrew met them there and they started all they needed to do with lots of information. He is tiny but feisty!
Megan and Andrew are very strong but this is going to be a very LONG emotional road and they will need all the support possible! If you want to donate it will help take some financial burden off of them. Please Pray ❤️
You can follow the updates on: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/teamtrace/journal
What started out as a normal pregnancy to me turned very fast. At my 20 week anatomy ultrasound they told me they couldn’t get pictures of the babies kidneys. They would need me to come back, I was scheduled at 24 weeks for the follow up ultrasound. They stated that Trace’s Kidneys were echogenic (bright)and large. The ultrasound showed that I was also low on amniotic fluid. I was referred to a maternal fetal specialist at pinnacle. That is where we found out that Trace has polycystic kidney disease. This is a genetic disease that he got from both Andrew and I having the recessive gene. This is also the reason why my fluid was low in the beginning.
The doctor told us at pinnacle that it would be a long Road and that I would need to deliver where there was a NICU. Fast forward to September 11th, I decided that I wanted to get a second opinion at hmm Hershey. I was thinking since it was a children’s hospital and closer to home it would be great. Our experience there was not good. They told us We could Terminate our baby at 29 weeks in a different state. As a mother I would have never given up with that answer. I read an article about CHOP; Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia. I decided that I would try one more place and then go from there.
September 28th We went to CHOP. I had a 2 1/2 ultrasound that showed everything. Trace had an echo to check his heart and then met with an amazing doctor. She stated that he obviously had this disease but that Trace was looking good otherwise. His kidneys look very large on the ultrasound but other then that he was growing and other organs looked good. Babies with this disease have trouble with hmm lung maturity, having his belly be enlarged because his kidneys are so big and problems with their heart structure and function because everything is being squished. The doctor said his heart is structurally and functionally good. She told us that we needed to deliver Trace in their special delivery unit so that he would be in the best place for help right away. CHOP has dealt with babies like this before and they Know what to expect. I was told that I would have a normal delivery and that there would be 25 people in the room next to me with Trace.
I will continue to follow at CHOP weekly so they can measure my fluid closely. It has been varying, between 2.0 and 4.8. I will deliver Trace between 35-37 weeks. We are hoping to keep him in as long as we can so that he can continue to develop his lungs.
We have to relocate because they want me to be there in Philly if I go into labor. I will be there as long as I need for Trace and we are hoping for family and friends to visit as well. This will be life changing for us and Owen, but through thoughts and prayers we will make it through. So we are just asking for lots of prayers for our bundle of joy ❤️
Trace Alan Tate was Born on Monday October 14th 2019 at 5:36pm 5 pounds 2 ounces 18 1/2 inches. Megan was only 33 weeks 5 days but Trace had his own plan. She delivered at Harrisburg Hospital closest hospital with a NICU. Trace took his first breath and cried 3 times before they took him away. They stabilized him and prepared him for his first helicopter ride. The CHOP flight team came to pick him up. He arrived at CHOP around 10:45pm. Andrew met them there and they started all they needed to do with lots of information. He is tiny but feisty!
Megan and Andrew are very strong but this is going to be a very LONG emotional road and they will need all the support possible! If you want to donate it will help take some financial burden off of them. Please Pray ❤️
You can follow the updates on: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/teamtrace/journal
Organizer
Melanie Sheriff
Organizer
Carlisle, PA
