The Milam’s Fetal Surgery
Donation protected
Hi everyone,
We are the Milam family ( Hannah, Landen, River ( 17 months), Saylor ( expected late October)).
After a routine ultrasound for our 19 week scan, we received the news that Saylor has Spina Bifida. We quickly met our maternal fetal medicine doctors to come up with a plan. Our care team introduced us to the Fetoscopic surgery option where they would perform closure repair on his back in Utero. The hopes for this surgery is to reverse hindbrain herniation, prevent hydrocephalus, and to preserve any nerves that have not already been damaged.
What is Spina Bifida?
According to the Spina Bifida Resource Network: "Spina Bifida is one of the most common, permanently disabling birth defects in America. It occurs when the neural tube, which forms the spinal cord and vertebral column, does not close completely during the first several weeks after conception. Each year about 1,500 pregnancies are affected by Spina Bifida in the US. "Living with Spina Bifida is different for every person. The spectrum of disability ranges from mild to severe. People with spina bifida often need many surgeries over their lifetime and have lifelong disabilities, including paralysis in the lower parts of the body, mobility challenges, and loss of bladder and bowel control. "Most children with spina bifida can and do live long productive lives, thanks to advanced medical techniques and support systems." (Learn more at https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/)
After a successful surgery, we were monitored for a month. While being monitored they found Chorioamnionitic Separation ( CAS) in one of our ultrasounds. Our team in Texas decided that we were under 50% membrane separation and were still able to travel back to Seattle and be monitored there. Unfortunately while being monitored weekly in Seattle, we are being admitted to the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy due to the amount of separation.
What is CAS?
“Chorioamniotic separation is an intrauterine event that can occur in pregnancy and is characterized by separation of the placental (chorion) and fetal (amnion) membranes.”
(https://radiopaedia.org/articles/chorioamniotic-separation?lang=us)
As we expected, this journey has and will continue to be expensive. We have been extremely blessed to have great insurance coverage. However, with our extended stay in Seattle, Landen traveling back and forth to the hospital, hospital bills, possible pet and child care, expenses are starting to rack up.
With tremendous gratitude, we ask our community to come around us with prayer and financial support. We are amazed and humbled by the ways God, our family, friends, and community have come together for us to create such a loving support network. We are so grateful for each and everyone of you.
We are the Milam family ( Hannah, Landen, River ( 17 months), Saylor ( expected late October)).
After a routine ultrasound for our 19 week scan, we received the news that Saylor has Spina Bifida. We quickly met our maternal fetal medicine doctors to come up with a plan. Our care team introduced us to the Fetoscopic surgery option where they would perform closure repair on his back in Utero. The hopes for this surgery is to reverse hindbrain herniation, prevent hydrocephalus, and to preserve any nerves that have not already been damaged.
What is Spina Bifida?
According to the Spina Bifida Resource Network: "Spina Bifida is one of the most common, permanently disabling birth defects in America. It occurs when the neural tube, which forms the spinal cord and vertebral column, does not close completely during the first several weeks after conception. Each year about 1,500 pregnancies are affected by Spina Bifida in the US. "Living with Spina Bifida is different for every person. The spectrum of disability ranges from mild to severe. People with spina bifida often need many surgeries over their lifetime and have lifelong disabilities, including paralysis in the lower parts of the body, mobility challenges, and loss of bladder and bowel control. "Most children with spina bifida can and do live long productive lives, thanks to advanced medical techniques and support systems." (Learn more at https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/)
After a successful surgery, we were monitored for a month. While being monitored they found Chorioamnionitic Separation ( CAS) in one of our ultrasounds. Our team in Texas decided that we were under 50% membrane separation and were still able to travel back to Seattle and be monitored there. Unfortunately while being monitored weekly in Seattle, we are being admitted to the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy due to the amount of separation.
What is CAS?
“Chorioamniotic separation is an intrauterine event that can occur in pregnancy and is characterized by separation of the placental (chorion) and fetal (amnion) membranes.”
(https://radiopaedia.org/articles/chorioamniotic-separation?lang=us)
As we expected, this journey has and will continue to be expensive. We have been extremely blessed to have great insurance coverage. However, with our extended stay in Seattle, Landen traveling back and forth to the hospital, hospital bills, possible pet and child care, expenses are starting to rack up.
With tremendous gratitude, we ask our community to come around us with prayer and financial support. We are amazed and humbled by the ways God, our family, friends, and community have come together for us to create such a loving support network. We are so grateful for each and everyone of you.
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Hannah Milam
Organizer
Everett, WA
Landen Milam
Team member