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I told her how sorry I was and that I loved her and did not want her to suffer. I would rather suffer every day for the rest of my life than to allow her to suffer one moment in life.

~Mom of an Angel

Everything was going great. As already having two "normal" pregnancies under my belt, I felt confident. I knew there was always that chance of hearing bad news but I said "no, not me, not our baby."

~A Heartbroken Mother

We felt that if our daughter had been in a car accident and was on life support with the same internal injuries, we would not keep her on life support and let her suffer. This child deserved the same dignity."

~ A grieving mom

I initially thought I would "be brave" and continue my pregnancy. But I came to realize that ultimately it wasn't about how strong I could be, how deeply I wanted this baby or what important lessons he could teach me. It was about what he would experience in his short life. Given his diagnosis, he would have known only suffering. As his mother, I couldn't allow that to happen.

~ A mother at peace

It was our ignorance for believing that all pregnancies led to a healthy baby. It was my arrogance for believing that since I had the best medical care, took prenatal vitamins even before and during my pregnancy, never took drugs, never smoked cigarettes and drank about half a glass of wine a year, that our baby would be safe.

~A bereaved mother

A mother will stop at nothing, including her own hurt, both mentally and physically, to protect her child.

~Brokenhearted Mother


Hydrocephalus

What is Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus comes from the Greek words “hydro” or water and “cephalus” meaning head or brain. Translated it means “Water on the brain” and is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. The "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) - a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain. Congenital hydrocephalus is present at birth and can be caused by genetic abnormalities or a problem during fetal development. It is one of the most common developmental disabilities, and is more common than Down syndrome or deafness. In some cases, such as hydrancephaly and holoprosencephaly, the ventricles are not only enlarged but can also be deformed due to overlying parenchymal abnormalities. Severe hydrocephalus can be associated with other severe developmental abnormalities and can present a grim outcome.

For more information on Hydrocephalus please visit these sites:

NINDS National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Medical News Today MediLexicon International Ltd

MedicineNet MedicineNet, Inc

CHOP The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

BBC BBC Health


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