Our Baby Boy

by | Dec 10, 2016 | D&E, Stories, Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)

After the amnio results came back confirming the diagnosis, we were faced with the reality that our baby boy was not okay. By J.D. I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), so when my husband and I decided to try getting pregnant earlier this year, we had a difficult...

Will You Let Her Go?

by | Nov 2, 2016 | D&E, Stories, Trisomy 18 (Edward's syndrome)

On Tuesday, December 22, the doctor called to confirm that Angela had Trisomy 18 in every cell in her body, or full Trisomy 18. By Vanessa Spiritoso When I was pregnant with baby number three, I wasn’t excited but I wasn’t unhappy. My mind was preoccupied...

When It Rains, It Pours

by | Oct 27, 2016 | D&E, Stories, Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)

By M.A. February 8, 2016, started as a beautiful North Carolina winter day, warm and sunny. I felt a little groggy with a “food hangover” from the Super Bowl the previous night. We were up late and ate all the food we shouldn’t have. As I drove my...

Much to Reflect On

by | Oct 27, 2016 | D&E, Stories, Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)

I hadn’t expected to feel relief, but I realize in retrospect it was the first step in moving past the devastating situation by simply having it over. By R. S. I was living abroad with my spouse and our 2-year-old daughter when I found out I was pregnant. It was an...

Real, not hypothetical

by | Jan 21, 2016 | D&E, Stories, Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)

My daughter is everything to me, and having a sibling with potentially severe disabilities would change the rest of her life. The caregiver burden could fall to her, and that didn’t seem fair, either. by R.S. I was living abroad with my spouse and our 2-year-old...