UPDATED:

Hello, our names are Colleen and Jonathan King. We are reaching out for help with the journey of our baby girl, Oliviah. What began with the excitement of expecting another blessing from the Lord, with the silly gender mishap (as some of you know), and cute little outfits and bows, has turned to feelings of heartbrokenness, powerlessness, and shattered disbelief. Yet, through all of this, we remain hopeful, knowing that God has a hand in all of it. Following my 19-week ultrasound, we received the devastating news that Oliviah has been diagnosed with a L4 Myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida. In Oliviah's case, the defect is low on her back, at the lumbar region, which is a good thing. She also shows the "banana and lemon signs," which is due to an elongated cerebellum, which is a sign of the Chiari II malformation, which means her brainstem is being pulled down into her spinal canal at the C2-C3 region. Her head circumference is also below percentile, caused by the Chiari II malformation.

To minimize complications of spinal bifida and give Oliviah the best possible chance at living a life as close to "normal" as possible, we have chosen a high-risk in-utero surgery. After being informed that the open fetal surgery has similar outcomes to that of the closed fetoscopic surgery, but it increases the risk for uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies, we opted for the closed fetoscopic surgery. The closed fetoscopic surgery is an in-utero surgery that uses a fetoscope (a small camera) and instruments that are inserted through three small incisions in the uterus to repair the spina bifida before birth. This surgery will allow the surgeons to operate on Oliviah, repairing her spine and the defect while she is still in utero. This surgery also gives hope of a VBAC (vaginal birth after a c-section) vs. A c-section being required for the open fetoscopic procedure. Oliviah has now officially been approved for surgery as the amniocentesis revealed an open neural tube defect, and genetics came back normal. We have a surgical consult next week with surgery scheduled for October 8th (I will be just over 24 weeks then). https://www.childrensmn.org/services/care-specialties-departments/fetal-medicine/conditions-and-services/spina-bifida/ offers information on spina bifida and the type of surgery she will be receiving. As you may have heard, I have been diagnosed with both gestational hypertension (high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes. Because the steroid given to help with lung development (in case of the need for an emergency delivery) can increase blood sugar, I will need to check in on the 12th to be monitored closely. After surgery, I will spend the first few days in the hospital, then I will need to stay locally until 30 weeks. During this time, I will also need to be on bed rest for up to about 3 weeks. Fortunately, I have housing figured out for my stay. I will be able to go home from 30-34 weeks, then I will need to stay locally until her delivery. After delivery, she will have a minimum NICU stay of 3-4 of weeks. I appreciate prayers for the upcoming surgery. But also, as you can imagine, this can lead to immense financial strain, so support is being requested to cover:

Travel, lodging, and food: Travel and a stay for extensive hospital stay visits for Jon and our children, as Ronald McDonald's cannot accommodate a family of our size, but I will want to be able to see my other children.

Living expenses and lost wages: Bedrest will be required for a prolonged period for me, which will lead to the chance that we will need Jon to take time off work to provide support. Donations will help with daily expenses during this time.

Ongoing care: Funds will also help with access to follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and other medical supplies and equipment Olivah may need as she grows.

How you can help:

We understand that not everyone can give financially, and we greatly appreciate your prayers. Any donation amount will make a significant difference. If you can't donate, please share Oliviah's story with others. We have faith that the Lord will help baby Oliviah and our family through this journey. Thank you for taking the time to read Oliviah's story and for any support you can provide during this difficult time. I have also attached verses that I plan to refer back to help me through this difficult time, which I thought might be good for others who are hurting right alongside us. We know we have a long road ahead of us, but we know we are not alone. We also know that Oliviah is loved and cherished and that we will do everything we can to provide her with the best care possible.

With love and gratitude,

Colleen and Jon King

Verses:

On self-blame: And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:2-3)

Anxiousness: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Need for strength: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)

Hope: “We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone” (Psalm 33:20-22)

Need for support: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

In times of trial: Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world’” (John 16:33)

God's love: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38)

When I feel exhausted: “‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Trusting in God's plan: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9)