Support Bode-Recovering Vasa Previa Survivor

1/22/2025 UPDATE: we came in January 22 for our admission date to the hospital for long term monitoring and the goal was to have a planned c section at 35-36 weeks. We finally got settled into our room after a couple hours worth of stress testing, getting my IV started, paperwork , and my first round of steroid shots for Bode so it can help his lungs develop at a faster rate when the WORST thing happened. I had just said goodbye to my husband around 715 pm (he was going back to the grandparents house to pick up our 4 kiddos and get home to prepare for school and everything the next day) when all the sudden I felt a burst from my vagina and a gush of fluid come out. It felt like my water broke. I rushed over to the bathroom and SO much blood was coming out. I immediately call the nurses to come and check it out but I knew right away from the amount that was coming out we needed to get Bode out IMMEDIATELY. They took a Doppler and couldn’t find a good heart rate for Bode. I was put on a gurney and rushed to the OR for an emergency c section. We had no time to gown myself, I was told they had to put me under because time was running out for Bode . I called my husband to rush back to the hospital. It was happening. Bode wanted to make his entrance into the world NOW. I was put to sleep very quickly and they got Bode out. He was pale white , which meant he needed a blood transfusion. He was put on a breathing machine and hopefully won’t be on it for long but only time will tell. He had to get medication to help his lungs have the ability to fully expand and perform at a better rate. His blood pressure is looking much better now since that was given. I was able to go down to the NiCU to see him about 5 hours  after my procedure. He’s doing okay for now and will be in the NICU for some time to recover. I will be off work for the remainder of his recovery. It was blessing that I was here in the hospital when the bleed happened because they informed me that if I was home when this occurred Bodes chances of survival were little to none. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your continued prayers. It means the world to us and our recovery. ❤️‍ 

1/15/25 update : We have reached the 31 week mark ❤️ that is a milestone in itself. unfortunately the VCI is getting worse and I will be admitted to the hospital in 6 days until I have our son. The free flowing vessels are at risk of bursting which is essentially his lifeline. His blood supply, his oxygen, everything! 

I will be in the hospital and stay until I have our son. This makes it so they can run daily tests, be there if I start bleeding and take me straight to the OR to operate. This is such a scary time right now and unfortunately I will not be able to work my full time job which leaves us without income for over a month. We greatly appreciate any donation to help us through this rough time. Keep us in your prayers

Hi everyone,

My name is Vanessa. We have 4 wonderful children and I'm pregnant with our 5th baby. Unfortunately, at my 20-week ultrasound, they noticed something on my scans and it showed that I have vasa previa. Vasa previa is a condition in which fetal blood vessels cross or run near the internal opening of the uterus. Vasa previa occurs in about 0.6 per 1,000 pregnancies. That puts baby boy at high risk, and I will have to be followed by a high-risk doctor now. Mandatory C-section and will more than likely have to be hospitalized to ensure baby boy doesn’t go into distress or bleed out. It will require me to be off work for over a month or two. We will know more information once I’m farther along. I am now almost 23 weeks pregnant. I’m praying that I make it more towards the 34-36 week for delivery via C-section. It all really depends on how baby is doing and developing. It's really hard for me to reach out and ask for help, but given that we will have medical bills, I will be out of work anywhere from a month or two, which forces my husband to switch roles with me (take off work too) and stay home to be there for our kids, school, and the day-to-day tasks. Financially, this is going to hit us hard. We appreciate any prayers, love, and support during this hard time. Personally, I want to thank you for visiting the page and helping our family out to make it through the difficult upcoming months while I am out of work and away from the kids.