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My Sometimes Hilarious Story Of Infertility, High Risk Pregnancy, And Finding Out I Had My Child's Rare Disease

Chandler Ward

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Published in Finding Inner Peas: My Sometimes Hilarious Story Of Infertility High Risk Pregnancy And Finding Out That I Control Absolutely Nothing

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Finding Inner Peas: My Sometimes-Hilarious Story of Infertility, High-Risk Pregnancy, and Finding out That I Control Absolutely Nothing.

by Celeste Headlee

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	405 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	232 pages

I never thought I would be the one in a million. The one who would struggle to get pregnant. The one who would have a high risk pregnancy. The one who would find out her child had a rare disease.

But that's exactly what happened to me.

I started trying to get pregnant when I was 30. After a year of trying, I still wasn't pregnant. I went to the doctor, and they told me I had unexplained infertility.

I was devastated. I had always dreamed of being a mother. I couldn't imagine my life without children.

I decided to try IVF. It was a long and difficult process, but it finally worked. I got pregnant with my son, Ethan.

My pregnancy was high risk from the start. I had to have weekly ultrasounds and blood tests. I was also on bed rest for the last few months of my pregnancy.

But despite all of the challenges, I was so happy to be pregnant. I couldn't wait to meet my son.

Ethan was born at 37 weeks via emergency c-section. He was tiny and he had to spend a few days in the NICU. But he was healthy and I was so relieved.

When Ethan was 6 months old, I started to notice that he wasn't developing as quickly as other babies. He wasn't sitting up or rolling over. He also had a hard time eating and breathing.

I took Ethan to the doctor, and they told me that he had a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is a genetic disease that affects the nerves and muscles. It can cause weakness, difficulty breathing, and eventually paralysis.

I was devastated. I couldn't believe that my son had a rare disease. I didn't know what the future held for him.

But I was determined to give Ethan the best life possible. I started researching SMA and I found a clinical trial that he could participate in. The trial was testing a new drug that could potentially slow the progression of SMA.

Ethan started the trial when he was 1 year old. The drug has been working well for him. He is now 4 years old and he is ng great. He is able to sit up, roll over, and eat on his own. He is also starting to talk.

I am so grateful for the clinical trial and for the new drug that is helping Ethan. I know that he will still have challenges ahead, but I am confident that he will be able to live a full and happy life.

My journey has been difficult, but it has also been filled with love and laughter. I have learned so much about myself and about the strength of the human spirit.

I am sharing my story in the hope that it will inspire others who are facing challenges. I want people to know that they are not alone and that there is always hope.

If you are struggling to get pregnant, if you have a high risk pregnancy, or if you have a child with a rare disease, I want you to know that you are not alone. There are people who care about you and want to help.

Please don't give up. There is always hope.

Finding Inner Peas: My Sometimes-Hilarious Story of Infertility, High-Risk Pregnancy, and Finding out That I Control Absolutely Nothing.

by Celeste Headlee

5 out of 5