Stillbirth of Miles and Jude -- Recovery Fund

Hello,

On February 8th, 2023, I found out that I was pregnant with my first child, a baby that was planned for by my husband (Aaron) and I of 4 years. This was especially special to us, as February 8th was the date on which we began dating.

Immediately, we started to plan and look forward to the future with our child. Who would they be, what would they look like? What would we call them and what special memories would we have together? Every day gone was another day closer to October 19, 2023--the baby's due date.

On May 21 at 3am, I had a rupture of liquid that prompted an ER visit (despite our lack of health insurance, caused by the loss of my job and our main source of income in April.) After running bloodwork, ultrasound, doppler, and a vaginal exam, it was determined that the pregnancy was safe and I had experienced a cyst rupture unrelated to the pregnancy. We were told to expect bleeding and cramping over the next few days and that our baby, who was moving and happy on ultrasound, appeared to be good. We would later find out that this diagnosis was incorrect. Later that same evening, I would experience severe cramping.

Two days later on May 23rd around 2pm I would experience a pressure in my pelvic floor that concerned me for the welfare of our baby, and then a rush of liquid. We were told to come to our doctor's office immediately. Ultrasound showed a severe loss of amniotic fluid and, upon a vaginal exam, we were given the devastating news that my body had initiated labor and we were going to lose the baby.

We checked into Labor and Delivery at the hospital and ran more tests while family researched for us if there were any chance for a miracle. With these tests, we were informed that I also was sick, running a fever of 103 degrees. After pain staking hours of more tests and waiting, the final call was made that there was no miracle in store for our baby, and that more than anything else, the infection setting into my system was top priority for our care that evening.

Around 9:45pm I went into active labor and our first baby was born at 10:10pm. In a very movie-moment, my doctor said he believed there was "something else in there," and our second, very surprise baby was born at 10:12pm. We had identical twin boys.

The revelation of twins gave some clarity to our situation. When early sunday morning I had experienced the "cyst" rupture, I had actually lost the amniotic fluid for baby A, Miles Joseph Chidester. The intense cramping I had experienced 20 hours later that same day was actually the contractions for Miles, which failed to birth him at that time. With that, Miles was lost sometime Sunday evening into Monday morning.

As for Baby B, Jude Steven Chidester, sharing a placenta with Miles' deceased body in combination with the infection the water's abruption opened me up to ultimately caused his water's breaking on Tuesday afternoon. Since our ER visit, doctors visit, and final ultrasound in hospital all only knew to look for one baby, there was no way of knowing that seeing a happy, moving, and healthy Baby B meant nothing for the Baby A who was hiding. Jude was alive until nearly the end. We heard his heartbeat for the last time via doppler a few hours before their bodies came into the world.

All in all, Miles and Jude were too early for this world. While we don't--and may never--know why it was they came early, we do find ourselves in a position of debt following the circumstances of their birth.

As for myself, the latest news on my prognosis is good. I am expected to make a full recovery from the birth + infection and was discharged from the hospital roughly 24 hours after I had Miles and Jude.

We are graciously accepting of any donation, big or small, to help us pay for the combination of ER, hospital, and funeral/memorial bills we have acquired due to this sad story of our lives. Thank you for your willingness to help support and succor us at this time.