The Robertson family was elated when they found out they were pregnant with their fourth child, but their excitment quickly turned to heartbreak and confusion when doctors diagnosed their baby with Acrania, a condition where the baby's skull never fully develops. Matt and Devynn have showed great strength and even greater faith throughout this entire process. My desire is to rally a community to help with their impending and unexpected expenses. Here's their story in Matt's words:
In October of 2016 we found out that we were pregnant with our 4th child. We were excited to share the news with our family over the holidays. What perfect timing we thought. The week before Thanksgiving Devynn went in for an appointment, where we were hoping to find out the gender. It was early, but she was hoping we could find out. We had told a few close friends that we were expecting and the common question was "What are you hoping for?" My response has always been "A heart beat". I took the day off of work to go with her, but ended up staying at home with the younger two girls and Devynn kept me updated with the latest news. Her first text was comforting " 135 heart rate ! " I was relieved. Just what I asked for, a heart beat. Before I could send the text asking if they could tell the gender I got a text saying " I think something is wrong" the rest was a blur.
That something turned out to be a defect called Acrania, which is where the baby's skull never develops. An hour later I was with Devynn and the doctors office where they told us the prognosis. Our baby would not be compatible with life. We were told that every person they had worked with who were given a similar diagnosis had aborted the pregnancy, but God gave us this child and we were going to care for it as long as we could. Weeks later we found out we were having a boy, our first son. We named him Jack Thomas. We learned that children with deformities wouldn't live or progress like a typical pregnancy and we should prepare to deliver at any time. It had been 17 weeks since we found out and Jack is developing on schedule only without the top of his skull. At present time he is over 4lbs and a normal length. Although we are enjoying watching him and seeing him kick around it brings with it several complications. His brain is not developed properly so he doesn't swallow. This causes Devynn to have excessive amniotic fluid which has to be drained. She is also a type 1 diabetic and grows large babies. Because she has had 2 C-sections already she will have to have another one which is scary for us both. The first two were tough on her body, but she has always said it was worth it because we got to take a kid home. This time will not be the same barring a supernatural miracle. We know that God gave Jack to us because we would not abort him and we would love and take care of him as long as God allows. Please pray for us and our girls. We know God has a plan and we pray we live in light of that.
In October of 2016 we found out that we were pregnant with our 4th child. We were excited to share the news with our family over the holidays. What perfect timing we thought. The week before Thanksgiving Devynn went in for an appointment, where we were hoping to find out the gender. It was early, but she was hoping we could find out. We had told a few close friends that we were expecting and the common question was "What are you hoping for?" My response has always been "A heart beat". I took the day off of work to go with her, but ended up staying at home with the younger two girls and Devynn kept me updated with the latest news. Her first text was comforting " 135 heart rate ! " I was relieved. Just what I asked for, a heart beat. Before I could send the text asking if they could tell the gender I got a text saying " I think something is wrong" the rest was a blur.
That something turned out to be a defect called Acrania, which is where the baby's skull never develops. An hour later I was with Devynn and the doctors office where they told us the prognosis. Our baby would not be compatible with life. We were told that every person they had worked with who were given a similar diagnosis had aborted the pregnancy, but God gave us this child and we were going to care for it as long as we could. Weeks later we found out we were having a boy, our first son. We named him Jack Thomas. We learned that children with deformities wouldn't live or progress like a typical pregnancy and we should prepare to deliver at any time. It had been 17 weeks since we found out and Jack is developing on schedule only without the top of his skull. At present time he is over 4lbs and a normal length. Although we are enjoying watching him and seeing him kick around it brings with it several complications. His brain is not developed properly so he doesn't swallow. This causes Devynn to have excessive amniotic fluid which has to be drained. She is also a type 1 diabetic and grows large babies. Because she has had 2 C-sections already she will have to have another one which is scary for us both. The first two were tough on her body, but she has always said it was worth it because we got to take a kid home. This time will not be the same barring a supernatural miracle. We know that God gave Jack to us because we would not abort him and we would love and take care of him as long as God allows. Please pray for us and our girls. We know God has a plan and we pray we live in light of that.
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Matt Robertson
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