Anya Rose’s life will help others to live.
This is my son Zac Sheppard and wife Sadie Sheppard. PLEASE READ, share and help if you feel led too.❤️
On June 10th, we went in for Sadie's standard 34 week checkup at my OB. My pregnancy had been so uneventful, normal, and kinda…. easy? Everything was so perfect, until I stepped on the scale. I had gained almost 10 pounds since my previous checkup 2 weeks before and my belly was measuring at over 40 weeks. My OB sent me in for an ultrasound and I was immediately referred to a fetal specialist. We had another ultrasound where we were given the most devastating news - they had no idea what was wrong, but our sweet Anya had a massive brain injury and would not survive.
Finally we were referred to our state medical research facility where we were given our final and most devastating diagnosis - Fetal Intracranial Immature Teratoma. This was such an aggressive rapidly degenerating cancer, she had almost no brain tissue left and it had began eating away her skull.
On June 14th, I was finally admitted and rushed in for an emergency cesarean. Sweet Anya had shifted my organs so rapidly and in such a dangerous way, our care team didn’t think either of us would survive delivery. My cesarean was performed by a room full of over 30 surgeons, doctors, and techs all prepared for me to bleed out. We were told that it was unlikely for Anya to ever even take a single breath on her own.
Sweet Anya Rose gave us 48 hours of love and fight. It is suspected the tumor began around 32 or 33 weeks and she was likely in pain the entire time. She was able to pass surrounded by the love of her family and with medication to go pain free.
There are less than 100 known cases of this type of tumor occurring in utero and we have chosen to donate her brain for further research. We are extremely blessed to live near our state’s top children’s cancer research facility. If it weren’t for their quick diagnosis and their knowledge and experience - my family would have lost me as well.
We will always Love You, sweet Anya Rose.❤️
June 14th 2021 3:28pm
June 16th 2021 4:04pm
Unfortunately after all of these tragic events they are now receiving a mountain of medical bills from three health-care systems here in the Charleston area (Roper St Francis,, Maternal Fetal Medicine- Trident, and Medical University of South Carolina). Due to the extensive surgery Sadie had to have to deliver sweet Anya and the emotional toll that it has taken . Zac had to take three weeks from work at reduced pay. This put them behind on several bills that are now accumulating.