Those of you who having followed the blog, my facebook or instagram know that we are expecting our first baby this june. But we thought we would introduce her early. Her, that’s right, we are having a girl.
Meet our Coco Darling.
We did not intend to share the sex of our baby just yet, and definitely not the name. But things have changed and we want to share her with you before her ‘arrival’. But let me go back to explain why.
Four weeks ago, at our 20week anatomy scan a few warning bells were raised. She was in the 2nd percentile for size, and the 10th for length, Coco is a very little baby. As they looked closer, they found out more.We were sent to the Fetal medicine ward at Auckland Hospital where they did a more in-depth scan, and we heard the first on Trisomy 18. They performed an amniocentesis, and we waited for the results. They came back 100%, Coco had Trisomy 18. We were heart broken to say the least.
Trisomy 18 is a rare genetic disorder that is quoted as being ” incompatible with life ” One in 6,000 babes have Trisomy 18, Not many make it full term, and even then, most are still born. Most only live hours or days, only around 8% make it to their first birthday.
I have spent the last few weeks debating with myself to share or not to share. To be honest, I did not really want to share this. I didn’t want to talk about it. It hurt too much. But the other day something switched. Despite the statistics and pain, we love our Coco Darling more than I ever thought I could love someone. She is our daughter, we are so thankful she is in our lives. She is a fighter. And we want to pour as much love on her for as long as we have her. We pray for a miracle, but we are thankful for who she is regardless. We thank God for Coco daily. We are thankful for our dear friends, for the meals, for the prayers and texts and flowers. The hardest part isn’t over, we still need your help and your prayers. I may not want to talk about it, and somedays I might. I will have good days and Bad. But we will always want you to think, to love and to pray for our Coco Darling.
Thanks.
Gem, Nathan and Coco Darling.
I have spent the last few weeks debating with myself to share or not to share. To be honest, I did not really want to share this. I didn’t want to talk about it. It hurt too much. But the other day something switched. Despite the statistics and pain, we love our Coco Darling more than I ever thought I could love someone. She is our daughter, we are so thankful she is in our lives. She is a fighter. And we want to pour as much love on her for as long as we have her. We pray for a miracle, but we are thankful for who she is regardless. We thank God for Coco daily. We are thankful for our dear friends, for the meals, for the prayers and texts and flowers. The hardest part isn’t over, we still need your help and your prayers. I may not want to talk about it, and somedays I might. I will have good days and Bad. But we will always want you to think, to love and to pray for our Coco Darling.
Thanks.
Gem, Nathan and Coco Darling.
