Baby Lyla’s Medical Care

Hi my name is Hollie Hobbs and I am fundraising for the Blasingame Family.

 

Kevin and Madison Blasingame are expecting baby Lyla in October of this year. Anyone who knows Kevin and Madison know how truly amazing this couple is. Madison just got certified to be a K-6 teacher after finishing her Bachelor’s last year. She has spent much of her teenage years and adult life helping those with special abilities and bringing so much light into the world. Madison is one of those people in the world who you could consider “golden”, she is always kind, loving, sweet, and doing everything she can to help others in need. Kevin is a police officer for the City of Fort Worth and is always bringing a smile to peoples faces and so supportive of his sweet family.

 

Here is there story about baby Lyla’s diagnosis and upcoming journey to give her the best possible care:

 

“We went in for the anatomy scan like any normal pregnancy expecting to check on our baby girl. We heard her strong heartbeat, saw her sweet profile, and confirmed she was a SHE! The sonogram tech got quiet and sent us to our dr’s private office. Our Dr. came in and told us they have reason to believe Lyla could have Spina Bifida. My heart sank to my stomach. He referred us to a high risk specialist where they did a high tech sonogram and an amniocentesis. They confirmed our girl has Spina Bifida. They saw the bulge on her spine and that it is very low on the spine, this is a good thing. The lower the better. They saw that she has Hindbrain Herniation which happens when the spinal cord is being pulled on. They also saw extra fluid on her brain. This is all typical for Spina Bifida.

 

The specialist, Dr. Papa, told us about the surgery called fetoscopic repair. She referred us to more specialists in Dallas. It felt like forever waiting for the results of the amniocentesis. This tells us if Lyla has any chromosomal or genetic disabilities coupled with Spina Bifida. After waiting about 2 agonizing weeks we found out the amniocentesis came back all clear.

 

Finally we went to Dallas for several appointments with specialists at the Dallas fetal care center. We met with a genetic counselor that wanted to know all our family medical history, and we had to do a fetal echo on her heart, they said her heart looks perfect!

 

Then finally we met with Dr. Magee the maternal fetal medicine specialist (MFM). He confirmed we need to do an in utero repair on Lyla’s spine before she is even born. The longer the defect is exposed to the amniotic fluid the more risk of not being able to walk or bowel problems. Dr. Magee suggested we do the fetoscopic repair where they put me under, cut 2 small incisions into the uterus, use small instruments to open the bulge on her spine, put the spinal cord back where is goes, close up her spine, and close up my incision. This is a huge procedure that very few Doctors will do. There will be just under 30 Doctors in the room working on Lyla and I. It is a 3-4 hr procedure and after wards I will be on bedrest for several weeks.

 

We just had to go back and meet with Dr. Magee now that I am in the surgical window of 23-26 weeks. We had to do a fetal MRI that took over and hour, we met with the neurosurgeon who told us Lyla could need a shunt when she is born to drain the fluid from her brain. Then we met with the Neonatologist that will be working on Lyla as soon as she is born and during her stay in the NICU for a few weeks following her birth. They will be checking her leg functions, her spinal repair, her bowel function, and fluid on her brain.

 

Finally we met with Dr. Magee. He looked at the results of the MRI and they believe Lyla has a very severe form of spina bifida called Myelomeningocele where the spinal cord and nerves are protruding through her vertebrae. He said he believes we will meet all the qualifications for the fetoscopic surgery and that would be the best plan of action for Lyla. He said the only place in Texas that does this is in Houston. He highly recommends the Doctors there at Hermann Memorial Hospital. Dr. Magee will follow us to Houston and be in the surgery as well making sure it goes smoothly.

 

We are tentatively on the books for surgery this week. After surgery I will be on bed rest for weeks, I could possibly be on bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy depending on how the surgery goes. The deliver of Lyla is unknown at this point. I will have to be induced or have a scheduled C-section and I will have to have her at Medical City Dallas where our team of specialists are. This will be a long and difficult journey. We are trying to stay positive and lean on our faith and loved ones around us. “

 

Baby Lyla is so special and strong and will have many hurdles to climb but she is receiving the best care and has the most loving parents to be with her along the way. Due to her diagnosis Madison will not be able to begin her teaching career this year as they had initially planned so Kevin is the only income coming in for their family.

 

All of the Co pays, medical visits, Doctors involved, and travel needed between Dallas and Houston add up quickly. Anything you can give is beyond appreciated and will go straight to ensuring the best care for baby Lyla and support for the Blasingame family as they prepare for Lyla’s arrival.

 

We will post updates on here as they came on baby Lyla and the Blasingame Family.