01/01/2023
It would be nearly impossible to sum up 2022. What a crazy year it has been. I’m going to do my best to briefly sum up Ava’s birth story, because to end on such a miraculous note, is truly a gift from God.
After a very difficult pregnancy, at week 36, I didn’t feel Ava moving. I was sure I was overthinking but AJ and I went to the hospital where they were going to do a simple NST test. After several hours and an ultrasound and still no movement, the dr wanted to keep me overnight. The following morning after still no movement, I was induced. AJ and I had the clothes on our backs and that was it. So he went home to grab some things. The minute he left the dr came in and said I needed a c section asap. He had me call AJ back to the hospital and I was prepped for the surgery. It was a blur. The surgery itself was very traumatic and I puked the entire time. For a second I was able to have Ava near me before they took her away. She was as white as a ghost.
I was wheeled to one room where the pediatrician said she needed two blood transfusions due to a fetal hemorrhage. She was in the NiCU and I couldn’t see her until I could walk which was 6 hours later.
Two days later we were discharged and Ava stayed in the NiCU.
She was there for 12 days. During that time, my OB met me in the night at the hospital to tell me I had a pregnancy related cancer. It was so rare he didn’t even really know what it was. My baby’s dr said there was a chance the cancer passed on to her.
AJ had the flu for several days and I had to be told all this by myself, all while not being able to drive and having to Uber back and forth, pump, and be there for my baby all while recovering from my surgery.
Finally we could go home and I had my first oncologist appointment. My dr was very kind but told me I would basically be having 2 months of chemo and my hair would fall out and I couldn’t nurse anymore. I was in tears over the nursing part. I don’t care about my hair. The next day I had ct scans and blood work and was literally told the cancer wasn’t anywhere. Ava had her oncologist appointment and her levels came back looking great!(cont in comments.
