Donation protected
As many of you are aware, Shelly & Lucus Messer, and Noah and Hadley, are expecting their third child, Saylor Rain, due in March 2020. What many of you aren't aware of are the complications Shelly has been going through since about 9 weeks into this pregnancy.
Here's a note from Shelly to fill you in:
"Hi, We are the Messer Family! We are a 10+ year Air Force Family currently stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. Our family is made up of Lucus and Shelly who will have been married 10 years this month. Noah who is 5 and Hadley who is 3. We have one goldendoodle baby named Pancake, two guinea pigs named Rio and Scooter and a parakeet named Sunshine!
In July of 2019 we were thrilled to find out we were expecting little Saylor Rain in March of 2020. As every family does, we were hoping for a smooth pregnancy, but things were all but ordinary. At 9 weeks we landed in the ER due to left abdominal pain and a significant bleed at which time we were told we were experiencing a “threatened miscarriage”. Little was said or done at this point. We were sent home to wait and research on our own. Over the following weeks we had been told it was likely a Subchorionic Hemorrhage which poses a threat to the unborn baby as the clot can rip the placenta and baby out with bleeding.
During one of our later scans we were told there was a possibility of Placenta Previa which means the placenta is low lying and generally covers the cervix. This poses a risk to both mother and baby as there can be significant hemorrhaging during the third trimester and at delivery. We were sent to a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor here in Anchorage, Alaska which specializes in complicated and high-risk pregnancies. We were optimistic going in and expected worse case scenario we would be told to expect a c-section delivery. Little did we know our lives were about to be turned upside down.
During the Anatomy Scan, normally done around 20 weeks, the doctor checks all aspects of the baby’s anatomy and makes sure everything is growing. What in our past and is usually a fun time of seeing the baby and breathing a sigh of relief that everything looks ok, turned into a nightmare. We were told that Saylor looked amazing, everything was right on track. The doctor had us go into another room where she informed us that I had did indeed have Placenta Previa, but also something called Placenta Acreta, Increta and Percreta. It is a rare, life threatening pregnancy complication where the placenta, grows abnormally into the uterus at various degrees of severity.
Shelly’s placenta had become placenta Percreta, it had already grown through and out of the uterus and was attacking her bladder. She would have to deliver Saylor early via c-section and have a total hysterectomy and bladder repair as early as 32 weeks and could lose her total body’s supply of blood needing multiple transfusions with Saylor undoubtedly needing NICU time. This is all hoping no hemorrhaging happens before the scheduled surgery date. Best case scenario only happens when things are planned and all of the doctors are prepped to handle the surgery. Needless to say we left that appointment devastated. You don’t typically walk out of a baby appointment being told you are losing your fertility and to prepare yourself for the possibility of death.
Placenta Accreta affects 1 in 272 births. In 1980 that rate was 1 in 1250. Placenta Accreta is more common in women who become pregnant through IVF, have had multiple c-sections, or have had any type of uterine scarring. Our best chance for survival is to deliver at a facility that has handled Percreta cases before. We will be transferring to the University of Utah under the care of Dr. Brett Einerson who is one of the most experienced and successful Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors in America. We’ve been told to expect as many as 30 different specialists in the operating room for a 6-8 hour surgery. "
Shelly's parents, Susan and Rayford Varnes, will be flying out for the initial appointment in Salt Lake City, and then will bring Noah and Hadley back to Florida with them. There will be multiple trips back and forth for them for the delivery, surgeries, and during the recovery time, so that the kiddos (and parents) can all be together.
All of this has been extremely hard for them to wrap their minds around, and even harder to share with anyone, which is why I am doing this for them. Shelly, Lucus, Susan and Rayford aren't ones to ask for help, but they're ALWAYS there to help anyone who has a need, and will do anything for anyone without a single question being asked. Both Shelly and Lucus have served our country through the Airforce, and Lucus is still active and based in Anchorage at this time; just another testament to their selfless giving. Having grown up with this family I can personally attest to this on many occasions.
Now it is our turn to help them.
Your prayers are first and foremost what they need right now, and throughout the coming weeks - please pray specifically for a total healing of Shelly's body, that baby Saylor remains safe and healthy, that the doctors' hands will be guided through each step of every surgery she undergoes, and that the amount of blood lost during those surgeries remains at a minimum.
After that, your help financially would be greatly appreciated. We are unsure exactly what the costs will be, but do anticipate that there will be at least 3 or 4 flights round trip between FL and UT, hotel stays, food, rental car, gas, etc. for 3 adults and 2 children. Having done a quick search of air fares and hotels in that area, we are estimating that this will total to be in the neighborhood of $10,000, depending on the length of stays required for surgeries and recovery.
We will continue to update you as more information is available, and cannot thank each of you enough for the support you are showing to this family!
** As of writing this on Friday, the timeline and severity of what is going on has changed, as Shelly began bleeding during the evening on Sunday. She is currently on complete bed rest, and they anticipate flying her to Salt Lake City in the next couple of days to let the medical team take over and potentially move forward with the c-section and surgery. So your timely help and the need for prayers is even greater at this time!
I believe Shelly sums all of this up best:
"It is a daily battle not to live in constant fear of the unknown. We believe in a God that still heals and that He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We believe that God has a plan even when we can’t see what that plan is. Through all of this, it’s been evident that God has had a hedge of protection around baby Saylor and the greatest gift we can be given is for God’s people to come together in prayer for our family. "
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans for a hope and a future.
***If you would like to donate by check, you may do so by mail: The Varnes/Messer Family, c/o Staci Reid, 5221 Summit Lake Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32258. ***
Here's a note from Shelly to fill you in:
"Hi, We are the Messer Family! We are a 10+ year Air Force Family currently stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. Our family is made up of Lucus and Shelly who will have been married 10 years this month. Noah who is 5 and Hadley who is 3. We have one goldendoodle baby named Pancake, two guinea pigs named Rio and Scooter and a parakeet named Sunshine!
In July of 2019 we were thrilled to find out we were expecting little Saylor Rain in March of 2020. As every family does, we were hoping for a smooth pregnancy, but things were all but ordinary. At 9 weeks we landed in the ER due to left abdominal pain and a significant bleed at which time we were told we were experiencing a “threatened miscarriage”. Little was said or done at this point. We were sent home to wait and research on our own. Over the following weeks we had been told it was likely a Subchorionic Hemorrhage which poses a threat to the unborn baby as the clot can rip the placenta and baby out with bleeding.
During one of our later scans we were told there was a possibility of Placenta Previa which means the placenta is low lying and generally covers the cervix. This poses a risk to both mother and baby as there can be significant hemorrhaging during the third trimester and at delivery. We were sent to a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor here in Anchorage, Alaska which specializes in complicated and high-risk pregnancies. We were optimistic going in and expected worse case scenario we would be told to expect a c-section delivery. Little did we know our lives were about to be turned upside down.
During the Anatomy Scan, normally done around 20 weeks, the doctor checks all aspects of the baby’s anatomy and makes sure everything is growing. What in our past and is usually a fun time of seeing the baby and breathing a sigh of relief that everything looks ok, turned into a nightmare. We were told that Saylor looked amazing, everything was right on track. The doctor had us go into another room where she informed us that I had did indeed have Placenta Previa, but also something called Placenta Acreta, Increta and Percreta. It is a rare, life threatening pregnancy complication where the placenta, grows abnormally into the uterus at various degrees of severity.
Shelly’s placenta had become placenta Percreta, it had already grown through and out of the uterus and was attacking her bladder. She would have to deliver Saylor early via c-section and have a total hysterectomy and bladder repair as early as 32 weeks and could lose her total body’s supply of blood needing multiple transfusions with Saylor undoubtedly needing NICU time. This is all hoping no hemorrhaging happens before the scheduled surgery date. Best case scenario only happens when things are planned and all of the doctors are prepped to handle the surgery. Needless to say we left that appointment devastated. You don’t typically walk out of a baby appointment being told you are losing your fertility and to prepare yourself for the possibility of death.
Placenta Accreta affects 1 in 272 births. In 1980 that rate was 1 in 1250. Placenta Accreta is more common in women who become pregnant through IVF, have had multiple c-sections, or have had any type of uterine scarring. Our best chance for survival is to deliver at a facility that has handled Percreta cases before. We will be transferring to the University of Utah under the care of Dr. Brett Einerson who is one of the most experienced and successful Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors in America. We’ve been told to expect as many as 30 different specialists in the operating room for a 6-8 hour surgery. "
Shelly's parents, Susan and Rayford Varnes, will be flying out for the initial appointment in Salt Lake City, and then will bring Noah and Hadley back to Florida with them. There will be multiple trips back and forth for them for the delivery, surgeries, and during the recovery time, so that the kiddos (and parents) can all be together.
All of this has been extremely hard for them to wrap their minds around, and even harder to share with anyone, which is why I am doing this for them. Shelly, Lucus, Susan and Rayford aren't ones to ask for help, but they're ALWAYS there to help anyone who has a need, and will do anything for anyone without a single question being asked. Both Shelly and Lucus have served our country through the Airforce, and Lucus is still active and based in Anchorage at this time; just another testament to their selfless giving. Having grown up with this family I can personally attest to this on many occasions.
Now it is our turn to help them.
Your prayers are first and foremost what they need right now, and throughout the coming weeks - please pray specifically for a total healing of Shelly's body, that baby Saylor remains safe and healthy, that the doctors' hands will be guided through each step of every surgery she undergoes, and that the amount of blood lost during those surgeries remains at a minimum.
After that, your help financially would be greatly appreciated. We are unsure exactly what the costs will be, but do anticipate that there will be at least 3 or 4 flights round trip between FL and UT, hotel stays, food, rental car, gas, etc. for 3 adults and 2 children. Having done a quick search of air fares and hotels in that area, we are estimating that this will total to be in the neighborhood of $10,000, depending on the length of stays required for surgeries and recovery.
We will continue to update you as more information is available, and cannot thank each of you enough for the support you are showing to this family!
** As of writing this on Friday, the timeline and severity of what is going on has changed, as Shelly began bleeding during the evening on Sunday. She is currently on complete bed rest, and they anticipate flying her to Salt Lake City in the next couple of days to let the medical team take over and potentially move forward with the c-section and surgery. So your timely help and the need for prayers is even greater at this time!
I believe Shelly sums all of this up best:
"It is a daily battle not to live in constant fear of the unknown. We believe in a God that still heals and that He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We believe that God has a plan even when we can’t see what that plan is. Through all of this, it’s been evident that God has had a hedge of protection around baby Saylor and the greatest gift we can be given is for God’s people to come together in prayer for our family. "
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans for a hope and a future.
***If you would like to donate by check, you may do so by mail: The Varnes/Messer Family, c/o Staci Reid, 5221 Summit Lake Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32258. ***
Organizer and beneficiary
Staci Reid
Organizer
Jacksonville, FL
Susan Varnes
Beneficiary