Miracle for Baby Clara
Donation protected
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading, sharing, or donating to our baby daughter's cause. She is a beautiful little fighter, and we have been blessed beyond measure to be her parents. I hope in reading this you realize how precious a little life is and that there is hope despite what some doctors may say.
It’s been roller coaster the last 37 weeks, from finding out we were pregnant, to having a perfectly healthy start, to finding out at 20 weeks that we were very likely going to lose our little girl. Words like “highly likely to be stillborn” and “have you considered an abortion” were being said by doctors. We always knew that was out of the question. Clara was a true gift from God, and we were determined to hold on as long as we could. At 20 weeks she was diagnosed as having severe Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). There are many unknown reasons for this. We did testing, only to have more questions than answers. Our daughter started out in the 7th growth percentile, approximately 4 weeks behind in all measurements, then gradually declining (but by God’s grace...still continued to grow, she is a little fighter). Currently she is in the <1 percentile (approximately 8 weeks behind in measurement and weight). All we know is that it may be some form of skeletal dysplasia (450+ diagnosis options). Doctors were also concerned about one of her kidneys, and as fluid levels began to drop it became very evident that we would have to deliver early.
On Monday June 10th, at 37 weeks we had a c-section delivery. Clara was stark breech, had the cord around her neck, and fluid levels were dropping. She was born weighing just over 3 lbs. and had a rough start, especially with breathing, and needed oxygen to stabilize her. All of her bones and major organs were 6-8 weeks behind in growth. Testing was being done to determine if infection or chromosomal abnormalities was the cause, but we still have no answers yet. She will remain in the NICU.
UPDATES:
06/14/19
A new issue has arisen with her kidneys. An ultrasound of Clara’s kidneys came back very questionable. We met with the Nephrologist (Kidney Doctor), and she stated that Clara’s kidneys are in the 0% on the growth scale, and they appear brighter. They are going to be closely monitoring creatinine levels the next seven days to get an accurate baseline, but those levels have been elevated. Then they plan to do an renal uptake imaging exam to see the percentage of each kidney function. Please continue to pray that another miracle can occur and those kidneys can grow and function. If not, we will have to transfer to Iowa city where Clara will be put on dialysis. Clara has been off of oxygen though and is breathing on her own! Her breathing is very rapid, but she's not in distress. Her lungs are just so tiny.
06/15/19
Clara’s Kidneys update: labs did not come back great today. There was protein in her urine and the blood work showed high calcium and low sodium. So there are some filtration and absorption issues. They are just going to keep checking to see how the levels do the next couple days. They did send a sample to Mayo Clinic for testing, and we should have results beginning of next week.
It’s been roller coaster the last 37 weeks, from finding out we were pregnant, to having a perfectly healthy start, to finding out at 20 weeks that we were very likely going to lose our little girl. Words like “highly likely to be stillborn” and “have you considered an abortion” were being said by doctors. We always knew that was out of the question. Clara was a true gift from God, and we were determined to hold on as long as we could. At 20 weeks she was diagnosed as having severe Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). There are many unknown reasons for this. We did testing, only to have more questions than answers. Our daughter started out in the 7th growth percentile, approximately 4 weeks behind in all measurements, then gradually declining (but by God’s grace...still continued to grow, she is a little fighter). Currently she is in the <1 percentile (approximately 8 weeks behind in measurement and weight). All we know is that it may be some form of skeletal dysplasia (450+ diagnosis options). Doctors were also concerned about one of her kidneys, and as fluid levels began to drop it became very evident that we would have to deliver early.
On Monday June 10th, at 37 weeks we had a c-section delivery. Clara was stark breech, had the cord around her neck, and fluid levels were dropping. She was born weighing just over 3 lbs. and had a rough start, especially with breathing, and needed oxygen to stabilize her. All of her bones and major organs were 6-8 weeks behind in growth. Testing was being done to determine if infection or chromosomal abnormalities was the cause, but we still have no answers yet. She will remain in the NICU.
UPDATES:
06/14/19
A new issue has arisen with her kidneys. An ultrasound of Clara’s kidneys came back very questionable. We met with the Nephrologist (Kidney Doctor), and she stated that Clara’s kidneys are in the 0% on the growth scale, and they appear brighter. They are going to be closely monitoring creatinine levels the next seven days to get an accurate baseline, but those levels have been elevated. Then they plan to do an renal uptake imaging exam to see the percentage of each kidney function. Please continue to pray that another miracle can occur and those kidneys can grow and function. If not, we will have to transfer to Iowa city where Clara will be put on dialysis. Clara has been off of oxygen though and is breathing on her own! Her breathing is very rapid, but she's not in distress. Her lungs are just so tiny.
06/15/19
Clara’s Kidneys update: labs did not come back great today. There was protein in her urine and the blood work showed high calcium and low sodium. So there are some filtration and absorption issues. They are just going to keep checking to see how the levels do the next couple days. They did send a sample to Mayo Clinic for testing, and we should have results beginning of next week.
Organizer
Ariann Corpstein
Organizer
Norwalk, IA
