Cystic Hygroma, a testimony of Faith

On wednesday January 30, 2008, we went for a routine ultrasound at the Women's and Babie's Hospital, to check on the babies size and due date. We soon learned that are baby was suffering from a very rare birth defect called a Cystic Hygroma. A cystic Hygroma is diagnosed in about 1 in 5,000-10,000 babies. This Fluid filled cyst is filled with Lymphatic fluid due to the babies lymphnodes not working properly. Our ultrasound revealed a moderate sized cyst involving the head, neck and back. You can see the cyst on the ultrasound picture. We were immedialty sent to a Perinatoligist Group at the Women's and Babie's. Upon arrival, another ultrasound was conducted, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine reconfirmed the diagnosis. We were told that our baby has about a 70% chance of having a Chromosome abnormality and a possible chance of a heart defect. Our Doctor informed us that in very rare instances, about 3-5% , a Hygroma can shrink, and sometimes disapear. An amniocentisis was recommended to diagnose any Chromosome related issues, and serial ultrasounds to monitor baby throughout pregnancy. We were asked if we wanted to continue with the pregnancy, and we shuttered at the very thought of ever taking away such a precious life. Confused and shocked we took what little information we had, and went home to tell our family of the news.
The next several days were a whirlwind, and I can't say for myself that my faith didn't waiver. My very thought and fear was "How will I ever have the strength to move forward?" (this question was later answered)....We were bombarded with caring friends, family, and aquantences asking "how can we help?" I was too tired and too heart-stricken to even answer them, or face them. You just don't ever forsee something like this happening to you. I found myself in my devotions not knowing what to pray for or ask God for...."a small chromosome disorder, a miscarriage, health, " I knew in my heart I wanted a beautiful, healthy baby, but it seemed like that option was too far-fetched. A very-dear friend of mine, soon sent me a letter, that I feel was the begining of an amazing transormation in our baby's fight. She told me that I need to begin praying for just what our heart's desired, a perfect, healthy, baby. Which would require a "super-natutral miracle" From our Lord above. "YES!" I thought immedialty, of course! Our God is a God of supernautral miracles, and how easily we forget this. i turned to the Bible and began reading of the healing miracles that Jesus performed during his life. A blind man, a leper, a woman raised from the dead, a demon cast away.....all just a few miracles, given to those who asked. Jesus told us on the sermon on the mount, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find: Knock and the door will be opened to you" -(Matt.6:7-8) Our hearts immedialty knew that if it is in God's will, this baby can and will be healed. We fell at peace about four weeks later, and realized that whatever happend, God had a plan, and he will give us the Grace we need to move forward. That's not saying there weren't hard days, sad days, when we just said "why?" but we felt a sense of hope.
In February a healing service was done in our home, with our fam of "four" and some fellow believers who felt led to come and call on the Lord in our home. We sang, prayed and they asked the Lord to please Heal our baby if it is in his will, and make him healthy, remove the cyst, and let there be no Chromosome problems. It was an amazing experience, I cannot wait to share with our little one someday. Our friends left and the following morning our hearts overflowed with more Hope and affirmation that we need to keep praying and asking....and so we did.....
In the meantime, during some routine bloodwork, an antibody showed up in my bloodstream, causing some concern on what blood type the baby was carrying. Evidentally, during my previous c-section, some of drew's blood and mine mixed in my blood stream, casuing me to build up an antibody to a protein in his blood type. If Baby Risser also inherited this blood type (from eric) My blood cells could possibly start to attack the babie's giving him a disease call HDN (hemolytic disease of the newborn) which can be very risky. My amnio results would also reveal if the babe had my blood type or eric's.
At the end of February,after much waiting and patience, our amnio results came back Negative for any chromosome abnormalites, and we immedialty praised God for his good works! We were told our baby is a boy! And we began once again embracing a "normal" pregnancy" We were told the Hygroma is still present, and needed to be monitored every 4 weeks. The amniotic fluid also revealed that the baby was carrying my blood type! Eliminating completely the possiblilty of the baby getting a blood disorder inutero. We praised God once again....!!!! Amen! We kept everyone posted and continued to ask for prayers and healing.
On April 2, 2008 Eric and I skipped through the parking lot at Women's and Babies after learning the Hygroma has shrunk and was almost visibly gone. Our baby was fighting, and looked vibrant and strong, and we feel we owe it all to our powerful Savior.
As of now our baby is out of the "High risk" cat. and needs to continue to be monitored for growth and heart-realted birth defects. We will be having a fetal echo-cardio-gram on April 30 and again in 8 weeks after that, our Dr. says as of now our baby's heart looks healthy and he can rule out about 50% of any defects, however we will continue to keep monitoring.
We believe totally that our baby is happy, healthy, and persistent like his big bro! He also is going to be a walking testimant of the Power of God. Our testimony as a couple and as parents is begining to take shape, and every day we realize the ways God is showing us things we may have never seen otherwise, hence, the journal. I hope here to make some sense of all the amazing things going through my head right now! We both agree that an experience like this can change a marriage for better or worse. This has strengthened us in a way we never realized, drawing us closer than before. I have to say, some days, it's easier to just say " I want to be alone" but in the end you need to turn to each other, not pull apart and use your partner as a partner in God. You truly realize, God has partnered me with just the person I am to be with. Faith, Grace, and such a depth of thankfulness for the blessings of family, our son, and people who care so much for us. These are just a few, i truly beleive God is doing some continuing work here, in that others will hear this story and be drawn to seeking him out and learning that our God really is STILL a God of Supernatural miracles, our son is living proof.