My daughter, Ashlyn (Anonymous)

My husband and I had been trying for our first child for more than six months when we finally found out we were expecting. My husband was gone for training when I found out. Five weeks into the pregnancy I started bleeding heavily and rushed to the ER. My husband was still away at training so a few of his co-workers went with me. The doctors couldn’t find a reason for the bleeding, they said I had a terrible UTI though. They did an ultrasound and couldn’t see the baby, so I was diagnosed as having a threatened miscarriage and sent home with UTI meds. The next week I had a follow up with my doctor and given another ultrasound and more UTI meds since my UTI was still there. The ultrasound was beautiful, there was my little baby, so small but still so gorgeous. My baby was alive and well, and I cried I was so happy. My husband came home two weeks later and everything was progressing great.

At nine weeks and five days we heard the heartbeat for the first time, my husband and I both started crying. We thought the worst was behind us. We moved to a different state the following week, and didn’t get to see my new doctor until week 15 of the pregnancy. At week 15 I started realizing something wasn’t quite right with my belly. It wasn’t perfectly round like all of the belly pictures I was seeing online. I brushed it off though, thinking it was just me worrying for no reason. About this time I also noticed some of what I thought was urine leaking out when I laughed and sneezed. I thought this was normal as well so I never mentioned it to my doctors. Week 21 rolled around and I was sent to a clinic to get my gender ultrasound and to make sure the baby was measuring correctly. This is only the second time I had had an ultrasound during my entire pregnancy. I had a bad feeling that day as we waited to be called back, but I still brushed it off. The instant the woman put that wand on my belly I knew something terrible had happened to my baby. I looked at the screen and started crying as she asked me questions, “How far along are you again?” “Have you been leaking anything?” There was nothing on the screen, she couldn’t make out any part of my baby. There was no amniotic fluid at all. We ran out of there as soon as we could and went straight to the hospital, where we told our doctors what had happened. They got a copy of the ultrasound a few hours later and made an appointment for me to see a perinatologist the next day.

We met the two specialist doctors the next day and had a very thourough ultrasound. The doctors had no idea what was going on. They confirmed that my baby had kidneys, and a bladder, but they did not know why I had no amniotic fluid. They then told me I would develop an infection that could kill the baby or me if I continued with the pregnancy. They then asked me if I wanted to abort it or miscarry on my own. I told them they were insane and I would try to save my baby. They said if I made it to 24 weeks they would admit me into the hospital and try to save the baby.

At 24 weeks I was admitted and there I stayed for the next 10 and a half weeks. I had daily non-stress tests and weekly ultrasounds. I was on bedrest the whole time. At week 33 we finally found out what we were having, a girl. My husband and I were so happy. We decided on a name, Ashlyn. Her midddle name was to be Nancy, after my husbands monther who passed away from colon cancer in 2001. At week 34 the docotrs thought it would be best to induce labor because her lungs were as developed as they could be. I got the steroid shots and prepared myself as best I could. At this point the doctors all thought my baby was a miracle baby, having survived this long having no infection with my water being broken for so long. We thought we were beating the odds.

On June 7th at 9:41 PM my daughter was born after only four pushes. She weighed 4 lbs 6 oz. and was 17 and 1/2 inches long. She had the cord wrapped twice around her neck but her heartbeat never showed any signs of distress, she had a strong heart. As she came out my husband said she gave this cute little grimace, as if to say, “What am I doing out here, it’s cold!” She did not cry, because she couldn’t, her lungs were very underdeveloped. I did not see her as they rushed her away to the NICU. A few hours later I was finally allowed to see her, I was wheeled up to her and all I could see of her face through the mess of tubes and wires was her little butt-chin. It was poking up as if to say, “Look at me I have daddy’s chin mommy!”

The doctor explained to us the severity of her lung development, as he spoke we looked at her and her little chest was working so hard to breathe over the venitlator. The doctor laughed and said she was a fighter and she did not want that machine to breathe for her, she wanted to do it on her own. We had to leave after that and go back to the maternity ward, they promised I could see her in the morning. After I got back into my hospital bed the nurse came in to help me use the restroom, and as I slid off the bed to get up I felt this huge gush and I looked down and I was bleeding terribly. I made it to the bathroom and it just kept getting worse. I was hemorrhaging. I felt very very dizzy as I sat there so the nurse had to call others in to help. After about ten minutes the bleeding was under control and I couldn’t believe all that actually happened. I fell asleep that night hopeful that my daughter would make it. We had come this far God wouldn’t take her now, right?

In the morning we called the NICU to see if we could see our daughter. They said yes and we walked down there. We rang the buzzer to be allowed inside and they told us we couldn’t see her. We weren’t that worried because maybe they were just busy, we thought she was ok. Fifteen minutes later the NICU doctors came to our room with terrible news. They said this morning they noticed she hadn’t wet her diaper so they tried to do a catheter on her but got nothing. So they did an ultrasound and found out why. She had no kidneys. They said there was nothing they could do for her and we had no choice but to let her go. We were speechless. We had no idea she had no kidneys. The doctors pointed them out on every weekly ultrasound, how could they all of a sudden not be there? We went up to the NICU and had her baptized. They removed her from her vent and pumped her manually for a minute in my arms so I could hold her alive. As they removed the pump from her mouth I heard her make one small gurgle, that was it. She was so beautiful. I had waited so long to see her and I couldn’t believe how gorgeous she was. She felt so wonderful in my arms, so heavy and perfect. She had my round nose, her daddy’s dimpled chin and stern forhead. She had my ears, and her hands were so huge, just like her mommy and daddy’s. I held her for a while, then gave her to my husband. We took tons of pictures of her, we couldn’t get enough. I held her again one more time before the nurse asked me for her, she needed a sample of her blood to do some tests with. I kissed her goodbye on her forehead and daddy did as well. We miss her everyday and I wish things had turned out differently. It turns out what we were looking at on her ultrasound was not her kidneys, it was her adrenal glands. She had fooled all of her doctors. The two specialist doctors that had taken care of Ashlyn and me the whole time in the hospital came by and talked to us about it. They said they were completely fooled by her, they thought she did have kidneys and felt so bad that they didn’t catch it earlier. After the autopsy it was determined she had a form of Potter’s Syndrome. Bilateral Renal Agenesis. Thanks for listening to my story.





26 thoughts on “My daughter, Ashlyn (Anonymous)

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:39 am
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    Thank Y for sharing Y storie with us. Im a women in Sweden, who now noes that You and Your husband have a beutiful star in heaven..

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:42 am
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    As I sit here with my tiny baby in my arms who also was just released from the NICU after being born at 34 weeks 5 days, I am searching for the perfect words to say to you. Something that will bond you and I, women to women and I have none! I think you are a courageous women and mother to tell of your difficult journey with Ashlyn and I am certain that you are and will make a perfect mother. My heart goes out to you and your husband during the healing you must now do. I am sending you all the love I can muster to help you through this.

    Big Hugs,
    Kameron

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:49 am
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    Hi there

    I’ve never posted here before and don’t have any children of my own (I am afraid of pregnancy and I come by this site sometimes to try and find the courage from all your stories) but I just wanted to say I’m sorry for your loss, I can only imagine how you must have felt. All the best if you decide to try for another one!

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 10:35 am
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    Thank you so much for sharing your story. My heart breaks for you. I lost my daughter also, in May 2008. You can read her story if you want.

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 12:07 pm
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    Gosh, that is such a beautifully writen story. I can’t help but cry for you and your husband as you go through this hard situation of letting her go. I think it was wonderful that you got to experience her for those few precious moments of her grimmacing, and you got to hold her alive. Those are memories to cherish until you see her again someday in heaven. I’ll be sending you my prayers. Take care.

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 2:42 pm
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    Thank you for sharing your story.I am sorry for your loss. My prayers for strength, comfort and peace go out to you and your husband during this difficult time.Your story really puts things in perspective for me. Life can be to short to worry and complain about vain, and tangible things like stretchmarks and the changes we endure during pregnancy.Your strength during such a heartbreaking trial is amazing. Thanks again and God bless!

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 3:27 pm
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    Thank you for sharing little one with us. Your beautiful story made me cry. My daughter also has her daddy’s chin dimple, like your girl -so cute!
    My heart felt condolences to Ashlyn’s mummy and Daddy.

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 3:27 pm
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    I am speechless. All I can say is you are very brave for having to do what you do. I am saddened by this story and although it was hard for me to read, I know it’s even harder for you and you’re partner. I send all my love and prayers and hope that one day you will have the chance to be a mother to a second beautiful baby. You’re in my thoughts, take care xxx

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 9:46 pm
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    My heart goes out to you and your husband. I am so sorry for the loss of your little girl. Your story was touching and beautiful, thank you for sharing the story of Ashlyn with us. Be well.

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 10:27 pm
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    I’m so very sorry for your loss.

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at 10:32 pm
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    Oh mama… I am so, so sorry that Ashlyn had to leave. I wish I knew more of what to say, but please know that I am just heartbroken by the loss of your beautiful baby girl. You are amazingly strong — thank you for sharing your story with us.

  • Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 1:19 am
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    I don’t have anything eloquent to say. Your story made me cry. I am so sorry for your loss.

  • Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 3:23 am
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    All I have to say, is you’re amazing and you’re still a mother, no matter what!

  • Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 10:17 am
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    God Bless you and your husband. I cant imagine having to go through something like that. Your baby girl is an angel now. Im really just speachless…all I can feel is grief for you. Im so sorry.

  • Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 10:39 am
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    I don’t think I could have lived had that happen to my son, but you continue to carry on, god bless you <3

  • Monday, February 9, 2009 at 2:51 am
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    Tears are streaming down my face, what a lucky little girl that she got to be held in your arms even for only a short time. You have your very own little Angel in heaven.

  • Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 3:16 pm
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    My God! I am a mess! I read this site everyday and have yet to post anything. I could not get through this story without crying ever so hard! I am so sorry for your loss… nothing anyone says can change what you had to go through. My thoughts are with you and your beautiful daughter.

  • Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 4:15 pm
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    God bless you and your family. Although sad, your story has inspired me with a strength and drive that I could have never imagined. Your daughter was a blessing and there will be many more to come. Take care.

  • Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 2:59 pm
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    god bless you & your family. you sound like you’re handlin this very well, and i’m happy for that. i hope that one day, you’ll be blessed. i pray for you & your family.

    god be with you. <3

  • Friday, February 20, 2009 at 10:27 pm
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    I am so sorry for your loss of Ashlyn. Thank you for sharing your story with us, as hard as it must have been to write, I appreciated being able to hear about your precious little one who is now in heaven. Please visit this blog of a family who lost their baby girl at 33 weeks of very similar circumstances, at http://www.audreycaroline.com. Maybe reading their journey will help to give you comfort and to know that you are not alone in your loss. Take care and may God bless you and your husband.

  • Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 1:43 pm
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    im so sorry, the only thing i can do is cry. i dont even know what to say. you wrote your story so beautifully, i could see your family perfectly in my head. you did everything you could.

  • Monday, March 2, 2009 at 11:28 am
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    You are so courageous! You are such a great mom doing everything you could and your daughter she was a fighter! I’m sorry about what happened.

  • Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 9:20 pm
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    You are truely a strong and beautiful woman!!!!

  • Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 3:25 pm
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    wow you are so brave and amazing, i would have lost it, your really brave…i am currently 12 weeks pregnant and last week almost lost it due to massive bleeding, but it is still there and hopefull will stay that way…it was horrible seeing the blood cause i didnt think it could happen to me, this is my second kid and im 29. I now have a threatened misscariage. your story is making me cry. you are just brave.

  • Monday, November 7, 2011 at 9:16 pm
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    I JUS WANT 2 SAY SORRY 4 UR LOSS:`( I KNOW WHAT UR GOING THROUGH B/C MY DAUGHTER-KHLOE WAS DIAGNOSED W/POTTER`S SYNDROME @ 20WKS….THEY SENT ME 2 A SPECIALIST AND SHE JUS PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME 2 GET A ABORTION…BUT ME & MY BF SAID “NO”….WE HAD SAW HOW SHE WAS FIGHT`N & I HAD FAITH THAT SHE WAS GONNA MAKE IT….I HAD HER ON THE 21ST OF DECEMBER OF 2010….SHE WAS BORN @ 3:42PM AND WEIGHED 4LBS & 6.2OZS AND 15INS LONG….SHE LOOKED SO MUCH LIKE ME:`( AND SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH HAIR LIKE HER DADDY….OUR SWEET LIL`ANGEL PASSED AWAY 9:15PM IN HER DADDY`S ARMS:`(…..DAT WAS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE & IT JUS FELT LIKE MY WHOLE WORLD HAD ENDED….BUT I THINK GOD SO MUCH 4 GIVING ME THE STRENGTH & PATIENCE 4 HELP`N ME GET THROUGH THIS AND ESPECIALLY MY LOVING BF,FAMILY AND FRIENDS 4 BEING THERE ALSO….I`M SURE OUR BABIES OUR LOOK`N DOWN @ US:`)WELL MAY GOD BLESS U & HUSBAND !!

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