Help The Mitchem Family

January 2018 Cari and James finally got the two pink lines they had hoped for. After struggling with some fertility they anxiously waited for every doctor appointment. At 10 weeks mom and dad to be decided to go with the NIPT blood test that test for chromosome abnormalities and also tells you the sex of the baby. Everyone waited anxiously to know what the sex was, but little did most people know there test had come back for an abnormality. The test had come back that there was a possibility the baby would have T21 which is down syndrome. As this did not change there minds they only told close friends and family until they knew more. Cari and James decided to go with an amnio not to make a decision for them, but so they could prepare there sons future as best as they could. The amnio came back and it was T21. Cari and James have had to drive several times a week to Norfolk for doctors appointments and soon learned that they baby also had a congenital heart defect. At that point she was being seen by EVMS and CHKD cardiologists so they could stay on top of baby Mitchem’s. Last Monday July 9, Cari and James celebrated there 2nd wedding anniversary. They had the day all planned out...  ultrasound on baby Mitchem and then off to Water Country with the two big brothers Hunter and Mason. That plan immediately changed when they saw something wrong on ultrasound. The placenta was not supply blood flow through the umbilical cord and it was actually traveling reverse. They admitted Cari into labor and delivery to monitor more and start steroids. By Wednesday July 11th there was no change in the dopplers and things were getting worse. The doctors quickly made the decision to take the baby two months early. At 4:39 July 11th Avery James Mitchem was born weighing 2 pounds 11 oz. He is currently in the NICU at CHKD. Cari and James are traveling every day from home to Norfolk to be with there baby boy along with being home with Hunter and Mason. Medical and travel expenses are soon going to pile up.  Let help this wonderful family! 

Thanks a loving friend,
Nicole