Genetic Counseling Session

I made an appointment to see a Genetic Counselor. I had called to reschedule my appointment because my husband could not make it and wanted to come.

The lady on the other end of the phone said we do not typically re schedule these appointments so far into the pregnancy. She transferred me to the Genetic Counselor to further assist me.

I had said I was re scheduling the appointment so my husband could attend. She seemed not to like that idea. She warned me that, "time is of the essence."

(I was extremely irritated and frustrated at her comment and the receptionists comment.)

I said, "What do you mean by that!?" She replied, "You are getting rather far into your pregnancy and we want to leave the option up to you to terminate your pregnancy if you decide and if you re schedule this appointment, you might not have the opportunity to do that."

I could feel my adrenaline pumping as she was talking. I said, "Why is it that this is the third time I was given this option and not at all with my previous pregnancy?"

She said because of the chromosomal abnormality.

I said, "Hmmm... Let's say I have a neighbor. Maybe he is an inconvenience or maybe not at all an inconvenience, would you terminate him for me?"

She said, "Ma'am, we're talking about your pregnancy, not your neighbor."

I said, "What's the difference? I view my unborn baby as a human being made in the image of God as I do my neighbor. Answer the question! Would you terminate my neighbor for me!?"

She said she felt uncomfortable and wasn't going to answer the question.

Really!!!???

I felt even more uncomfortable!!!

I said to her, "Next time when you ask a woman this question, please think about this conversation. I hope it sticks with you. Put it down on my record. Highlight it! Put it in BIG BOLD letters! I will NOT terminate my child!"

My husband Bernie and I went to Henry Ford Hospital in downtown Detroit to see the Genetic Counselor.

We reviewed the results of the MateriT21 test and she said that it is not a standard recognized test for Down's. She suggested a amniocentesis to confirm the results. We turned her down because all of the signs point to Down's. The NT thickness on the back of Aaron's neck and his heart defect, not to mention a positive on that MaterniT21.

The lady gave us a book on Down Syndrome, pamphlets and spoke to us in detail about how the chromosomal abnormality happens. She spoke of three different types of Downs and was curious to see if it was the hereditary type of Downs that our baby might have because my niece has it as well.

We also had a detailed ultrasound that seemed like it took much longer than usual. The technician was focused on the heart and on the head of Aaron.

We had more detailed results of the ultrasound:
For Aaron's heart:

• A ventricular outflow tract is a portion of either the left ventricle or right ventricle of the heart through which blood passes in order to enter the great arteries is suboptimal.
• There is a 1.7 mm pericardial effusion. Which means that there is fluid around his heart.
• And he has a VSD (ventricular septal defect), which is a hole in the bottom two chambers of his heart. 

They also found a small cyst in Aaron's brain but said that is spinal fluid and should disappear within the next few weeks.

Other than that, Aaron is of normal size for his gestation, with his head measuring a little bit smaller. Which is also normal for Down Syndrome.

I would have lost heart, 

unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD 

in the land of the living. 

Wait on the LORD; 

be of good courage, 

and He shall strengthen your heart; 

wait, I say, on the LORD! 

Psalm 27:3-4