My Little Noah
Diagnosis: Chromosome 18 Deletion
By Noah's Mommy
A little over one month ago my husband and I got news that something was wrong with our pregnancy and it was recommended that we have
a Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) done. We scheduled the first available appointment for five days later and the CVS was performed.
The FISH results came back normal, and everything looked good. There was a 1% chance that there might be something wrong. Ten days later,
at 16 weeks of pregnancy, we received the full results from the CVS; our little boy had Chromosome 18 Deletion; I was terrified.
We met with a genetic counselor to go over this rare disorder and our options. We have a healthy 2 year old little boy, so we were faced
with the most difficult decision: to continue the pregnancy knowing this child would struggle forever or to end the pregnancy. In the best
interest of our little boy at home and for our unborn baby Noah who would have to fight his entire life with this genetic disorder, one week
later, we decided to end the pregnancy.
I have ultrasound pictures of my little Noah at 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 14 weeks, I felt him move and I heard his heartbeat. I don’t want
to forget Noah but I also have to try to heal for my 2 year old. I don’t know where to put the pictures that are still on my fridge.
Since we are unaware if we are carriers of this chromosome we were both tested and are now awaiting results which take 10 days. If we
are not carriers then the chance this can happen again is 1 in 40,000. However, if one of us is a carrier our chance is 50/50. Regardless
of the results, I don’t know how to move on. Everyday I try to call a therapist but I can’t get words out to talk.
I know deep down my husband and I made the right decision but I am hurting and missing my Noah. We chose the name Noah for its meaning:
Rest and Peace.
I love you my little man.
