Friday, July 19, 2013

The Backstory

Our daughter Charlotte was, quite honestly, a big surprise! We weren't trying to have a baby when I found out I was pregnant, so the big 'ol plus sign took us a bit off guard. However, we quickly fell in love with the amazing little life growing inside my body. It was so wonderful to be pregnant again, and I was really enjoying feeling those tiny flutters inside my belly. Those perfect little flutters...

On January 31, 2013, we headed to the hospital for our 20-week anatomy ultrasound.  This was also the day we would find out if we were having a boy or a girl.  We had both been feeling like it was a girl, but I was hesitant to get my hopes up. When the ultrasound tech said those words ("You're having a girl") I was elated! I immediately started picturing pink and bows and frills! Zach, not so much, but he came around.

A few days later, I received a phone call from my doctor that no parent ever wants to hear. There was an abnormality on your ultrasound. It appears that the baby's right foot is a clubfoot. I'm going to put in a referral for you to be seen at Walter Reed in Maternal/Fetal Medicine. Umm, what? There's something wrong with my baby? What does a clubfoot mean? Does she not have toes? Can it be fixed? Will she walk? Is it a sign of a more serious abnormality? Is it my fault? These are just a few of the questions that flooded my mind as my eyes filled with tears.



Over the next few months, I was seen for regular ultrasounds at Bethesda to more accurately diagnose the clubfoot and rule out any other problems.  I did my research on the internet and learned that clubfoot is a very treatable birth deformity.  This, along with my faith, gave me peace in the situation.  We continued to prepare for our princess's arrival.

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