Fearfully and Wonderfully, Maeve
Donation protected
Taylor and Katherine were so excited to go to their ultrasound appointment on July 12th. This was the day that they finally got to learn the sex of their baby! They were thrilled when the Ultrasound technician told them they were going to have a baby girl as they both had been dreaming of having a baby girl since they got married. They already had the name picked out if it was a girl, so it wasn't even in question - Maeve, meaning 'the cause of great joy', it was.
Unfortunately, after learning the gender, they also were delivered some bad news quickly after. The doctor let them know that he saw something wrong in the ultrasound and suspected that Maeve had a hole in her diaphragm and that some of her organs seemed to be out of place and up in her chest cavity. This condition is medically known as Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a rare birth defect. Hours later they found themselves at a perinatal specialist having a high resolution ultrasound done to confirm the suspicion, and it was with broken hearts they were told that their baby was officially being diagnosed has having a left-sided diaphragmatic hernia.
CDH occurs in one out of 2500-3000 pregnancies, and in the worst of cases, can be lethal. Because the organs in the gut below the diaphragm protrude up into the chest, the area where the lungs typically grow is crowded by the other displaced organs, severely hindering the lungs growth (and therefore function at birth.) This is a very sad and scary disorder as nothing can really be done until after the baby is delivered, and it requires rather immediate surgery and a long and intensive road of recovery in the NICU. And saddest of all, often times when families receive the news of a CDH diagnosis they are encouraged to consider termination of the pregnancy as a lot of doctors just do not understand the possibility of proper care and potential outcomes for CDH babies.
As most everybody would after learning this news, Taylor and Katherine have done their research to find the absolute best care they can find for their Maeve. After speaking with and visiting doctors and surgeons here in Atlanta and elsewhere, they have chosen to go to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida where there is a particular surgeon who has a unparalleled track record (92% survival rate) in CDH care, and where they have a dedicated CDH team and staff of neonatologists and nurses. This particular surgeon was referred to them by countless social media connections and friends-of-friends who have had a baby born with CDH (or known someone who had,) and after hearing these stories and meeting with the surgeon and his team earlier this week, they are certain that God has led them to this decision and that this the best care that they can pursue.
This decision, while clearly the right one, will obviously be difficult for Taylor and Katherine as it means uprooting life for a potentially substantial amount of time. They will be relocating to the area about five weeks prior to Katherine's due date, and after delivery and surgery Maeve will be in the NICU there for a period of time ranging anywhere between 5 to 12 weeks. Obviously, with this amount of time of being away and in all medical cases of this severity, comes significant costs.
We are seeking to help Taylor and Katherine raise funds to cover the following costs/expenses:
- for medical costs that will not be covered by insurance, deductibles, out of pocket maximum amounts, etc.
- rent for a place to stay while in St. Pete
- travel expenses to St. Pete and back
- food/living expenses while there
- to cover missed and/or reduced income due to missing time from work
We, as Katherine and Taylor's family and friends could not be more proud of how they have reacted to finding themselves on this journey. They have done nothing but put their trust in God and continue to press into Him and His love each day. Their community of friends, neighbors, coworkers and employers have been so amazing and supportive, and we are asking that that very community rally around them in this significant financial need.
Thank you all for your financial support, no matter how big or small, and more importantly for your continued prayers for Maeve!
God bless,
Taylor and Kat’s Family and Friends
Unfortunately, after learning the gender, they also were delivered some bad news quickly after. The doctor let them know that he saw something wrong in the ultrasound and suspected that Maeve had a hole in her diaphragm and that some of her organs seemed to be out of place and up in her chest cavity. This condition is medically known as Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a rare birth defect. Hours later they found themselves at a perinatal specialist having a high resolution ultrasound done to confirm the suspicion, and it was with broken hearts they were told that their baby was officially being diagnosed has having a left-sided diaphragmatic hernia.
CDH occurs in one out of 2500-3000 pregnancies, and in the worst of cases, can be lethal. Because the organs in the gut below the diaphragm protrude up into the chest, the area where the lungs typically grow is crowded by the other displaced organs, severely hindering the lungs growth (and therefore function at birth.) This is a very sad and scary disorder as nothing can really be done until after the baby is delivered, and it requires rather immediate surgery and a long and intensive road of recovery in the NICU. And saddest of all, often times when families receive the news of a CDH diagnosis they are encouraged to consider termination of the pregnancy as a lot of doctors just do not understand the possibility of proper care and potential outcomes for CDH babies.
As most everybody would after learning this news, Taylor and Katherine have done their research to find the absolute best care they can find for their Maeve. After speaking with and visiting doctors and surgeons here in Atlanta and elsewhere, they have chosen to go to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida where there is a particular surgeon who has a unparalleled track record (92% survival rate) in CDH care, and where they have a dedicated CDH team and staff of neonatologists and nurses. This particular surgeon was referred to them by countless social media connections and friends-of-friends who have had a baby born with CDH (or known someone who had,) and after hearing these stories and meeting with the surgeon and his team earlier this week, they are certain that God has led them to this decision and that this the best care that they can pursue.
This decision, while clearly the right one, will obviously be difficult for Taylor and Katherine as it means uprooting life for a potentially substantial amount of time. They will be relocating to the area about five weeks prior to Katherine's due date, and after delivery and surgery Maeve will be in the NICU there for a period of time ranging anywhere between 5 to 12 weeks. Obviously, with this amount of time of being away and in all medical cases of this severity, comes significant costs.
We are seeking to help Taylor and Katherine raise funds to cover the following costs/expenses:
- for medical costs that will not be covered by insurance, deductibles, out of pocket maximum amounts, etc.
- rent for a place to stay while in St. Pete
- travel expenses to St. Pete and back
- food/living expenses while there
- to cover missed and/or reduced income due to missing time from work
We, as Katherine and Taylor's family and friends could not be more proud of how they have reacted to finding themselves on this journey. They have done nothing but put their trust in God and continue to press into Him and His love each day. Their community of friends, neighbors, coworkers and employers have been so amazing and supportive, and we are asking that that very community rally around them in this significant financial need.
Thank you all for your financial support, no matter how big or small, and more importantly for your continued prayers for Maeve!
God bless,
Taylor and Kat’s Family and Friends
Organizer and beneficiary
Greg Latham
Organizer
Grayson, GA
Taylor Latham
Beneficiary