03/17/2024
Today means more to us than celebrating an Irish holiday where we wear green, set Leprechaun traps, and eat all things Irish and green.
4 years ago today, we got the diagnosis that our sweet baby girl had non-immune hydrops fetalis. I was rushed to a center city hospital where they had a better and higher acuity NICU in hopes she would be delivered alive and safe.
At a 30 week ultrasound, she looked perfect. 32 weeks 6 days, that ultrasound turned grim and she had a severe form of hydrops. She had swelling in her skin, lungs, and abdomen. She was sick. All I knew is that she was still kicking inside. She didn’t feel sick to me. But she was. Very, very sick. She was given a less than 5% chance of surviving delivery and IF she survived, she was given a 5% chance of surviving the first 24 hours.
March 17th marks the day where our lives changed forever. The reality is I feel like I live in a world where there was a before March 17th 2020 and an after. Before, I was blissfully unaware of what raising a child with medical needs actually entails. I was unaware of how a tiny person can change your life. I was unaware of birth trauma and the severe forms of post partum depression and anxiety that could develop. I was unaware- naive if you will.
March 17th also marks the day of never ending prayer, exuberant amount of love, and a fight that I never knew we had in us.
So on this day every year since 2020 we call Kelsey’s Day. We sit together, love together, and celebrate together the fight I am so glad we had in us that day and every day since.
We love you, Kelsey girl.
To celebrate with us, check out our stories!
