RIP Ryan Tratt
Donation protected
Ever since we were little, my sister, Molly, has always wanted to be a mother. Our childhood was filled with countless games of house where Molly was a mommy to several babies. As an adult, Molly channeled this maternal instinct into her career as a night nurse caring for her patients. Molly and her husband, AJ, in addition to AJs two children from a previous marriage, welcomed daughters in 2015 and again in 2016. However, their family still felt incomplete. In February 2020, while on a family vacation, she and AJ played a game by asking the family to listen and identify a certain sound. Someone guessed a train. Another person guessed a tractor. It was neither of those things, but a baby’s heartbeat, Ryan’s heartbeat.
Molly’s pregnancy was normal until the 20 week anatomy scan. They couldn't get a good picture of the heart and wanted her to come back at 22 weeks to see if the baby was in a better position. At 22 weeks she had another ultrasound to look at the heart. The ultrasound tech thought the baby might have a ventricular septal defect (VSD). They referred her to the perinatology doctor office for high risk pregnancies in Syracuse, NY. She was also sent to Pediatric Cardiology Associates where they performed an echocardiogram on the baby’s heart which then confirmed worse news yet - the baby had Tetralogy of Fallot, which meant the structure of the baby’s heart had four defects, which causes oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and to the rest of the body. They were prepped to have months of NICU time, as well as multiple heart surgeries. As the pregnancy progressed Molly also developed polyhydramnios, which is an accumulation of extra amniotic fluid.
At 24 weeks, she started going to the perinatologist office twice a week for ultrasounds and non-stress tests to monitor the baby’s heart and measure the fluid build up. The doctor was also concerned with how small the baby was. They suspected the baby also had esophageal atresia, but there is no way to diagnose that until the baby is born. This meant even more surgeries and even more NICU time. Finally, at 28 weeks Molly was diagnosed with gestational diabetes which led to needing to check her blood sugars.
On July 2nd, during one of the many twice weekly doctor appointments, Molly’s doctors became concerned with the amount of amniotic fluid present; it was dangerously high. She was tentatively prepped for an emergency C-section, but the doctors were able to stop the progression of labor. But because the fluid was still very high, she was not able to come home until six days later on July 8th. She was home for only 22 hours before her water broke and she rushed again to the hospital. There, labor stalled for several hours. At 12:30 a.m., Friday, July 10, doctors began prepping an epidural, the baby was ready to come! Molly, without AJ present, delivered Ryan 7 minutes later with three big pushes. Because of the known health concerns, Ryan was rushed away for care. However, about an hour later, Ryan departed from this world.
My family is devastated. We were all looking forward to meeting our family’s newest member. As Molly’s big sister, I am a problem solver and protective of her. But I can’t solve this pain and heartbreak. I can; however, ask you all to help ease this burden. As my father often says, many hands make light work. A donation from you will help pay for Ryan’s funeral costs and medical expenses. Any donation from you will allow Molly and AJ to focus on healing without worry while they take off from work while still caring for their two little girls who were so excited to be big sisters to a little baby boy.
Molly’s pregnancy was normal until the 20 week anatomy scan. They couldn't get a good picture of the heart and wanted her to come back at 22 weeks to see if the baby was in a better position. At 22 weeks she had another ultrasound to look at the heart. The ultrasound tech thought the baby might have a ventricular septal defect (VSD). They referred her to the perinatology doctor office for high risk pregnancies in Syracuse, NY. She was also sent to Pediatric Cardiology Associates where they performed an echocardiogram on the baby’s heart which then confirmed worse news yet - the baby had Tetralogy of Fallot, which meant the structure of the baby’s heart had four defects, which causes oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and to the rest of the body. They were prepped to have months of NICU time, as well as multiple heart surgeries. As the pregnancy progressed Molly also developed polyhydramnios, which is an accumulation of extra amniotic fluid.
At 24 weeks, she started going to the perinatologist office twice a week for ultrasounds and non-stress tests to monitor the baby’s heart and measure the fluid build up. The doctor was also concerned with how small the baby was. They suspected the baby also had esophageal atresia, but there is no way to diagnose that until the baby is born. This meant even more surgeries and even more NICU time. Finally, at 28 weeks Molly was diagnosed with gestational diabetes which led to needing to check her blood sugars.
On July 2nd, during one of the many twice weekly doctor appointments, Molly’s doctors became concerned with the amount of amniotic fluid present; it was dangerously high. She was tentatively prepped for an emergency C-section, but the doctors were able to stop the progression of labor. But because the fluid was still very high, she was not able to come home until six days later on July 8th. She was home for only 22 hours before her water broke and she rushed again to the hospital. There, labor stalled for several hours. At 12:30 a.m., Friday, July 10, doctors began prepping an epidural, the baby was ready to come! Molly, without AJ present, delivered Ryan 7 minutes later with three big pushes. Because of the known health concerns, Ryan was rushed away for care. However, about an hour later, Ryan departed from this world.
My family is devastated. We were all looking forward to meeting our family’s newest member. As Molly’s big sister, I am a problem solver and protective of her. But I can’t solve this pain and heartbreak. I can; however, ask you all to help ease this burden. As my father often says, many hands make light work. A donation from you will help pay for Ryan’s funeral costs and medical expenses. Any donation from you will allow Molly and AJ to focus on healing without worry while they take off from work while still caring for their two little girls who were so excited to be big sisters to a little baby boy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan Benson
Organizer
Ithaca, NY
Molly Tratt
Beneficiary