When I was 17 I found out that I was expecting a son, scared and

Posted On Friday, June 06, 2008  by

When I was 17 I found out that I was expecting a son, scared and excited I started in on the 9 month journey and was looking forward to welcoming him in August 1998.
In March 1998 at 20 ½ weeks of pregnancy, I developed an early onset of HELLP Syndrome so severe that delivery induction was required. I had such severe upper abdominal pain that I was taken to the ER and they just chalked it up to really bad heartburn. After the demands of my mother the Dr.'s finally ordered some blood work and an ultrasound. While waiting for the results I was admitted to the hospital, by 7:30am the results had came in and I was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome. I was Immediately transferred to the local Medical Center where I was informed that I would need to deliver my son and due to the fact that I was only 20 1/2 weeks along his lungs were not developed so he would not survive. The heart wrenching decision to save my life while sacrificing the life of my son Zachary Thomas was the most difficult decision I had ever had to make. I spent the next 10 days in the hospital undergoing plasmapheresis and other numerous treatments in order to get my platelet count up, at it's lowest point it was at 10 thousand which the normal person has 200 thousand so even the Dr.'s were worried. Once the plasmapheresis started to work and my platelet count went back up to normal limits I was release to go home. At that point the Dr.'s had told me that there was a 30% chance in a future pregnancy I might get HELLP Syndrome but with precautionary measures I should be fine.

In February, 2006, my husband Scott and I became pregnant. On June 13^th, we were excited and overjoyed to learn that we were the proud and expectant parents of a baby girl. In early July, I again developed an early onset of HELLP Syndrome so severe that delivery induction was required. Once again, I was faced with the decision that to save my life would mean sacrificing the life of my daughter Elizabeth Lynn.

There are no words to describe the devastation and overwhelming grief my family and I have had to endure at the loss of our beloved Zachary Thomas, Elizabeth Lynn and the realization that Scott I can never carry our child to full term. I have been at this point been advised to never get pregnant again and the thought of never being able to have a child of our own is difficult. If there is any research or information out there that has success stories I would be open to receiving it.

Jennifer