(Those are her Giant Feet)
After much research and consideration on where to seek care for Dylan and her condition we came to a conclusion. Even though this is a birth defect that is happening more often than in the past, it is still a rare anomaly especially in Arizona. After contacting the Department of Health and Labor statistics I was able to track the number of cases in Arizona in the past couple of years. I also contacted all of the local hospitals and pediatric surgery teams to get the numbers to cases that they have treated. I was not very impressed with the numbers. Most hospitals see less than 10 cases in a year on a high year. And we had to consider that one surgeon is not preforming all of the surgeries. Also, the facilities in Phoenix are not the best facilities for babies of gastrochisis. Yes, we have amazing hospitals out here, but they concentrate on births of multiples, not complex birth defects.
My mother devoted weeks of her time helping me research surgeons and facilities around the country to get Dylan to. We could not decide between two hospitals: Children's Hospital of Philly and University of California San Francisco. But as our research deepened and my fight with Insurance began, we realized that UCSF was the place for our little Dylan. They are the first hospital to develop in-utero surgeries. The team of doctors there actually specialize in Gastroschisis, they average almost 3 gastroschisis surgeries a week. Plus, Casey's family is not too far from the hospital (I think we figured out it was just about an hour).
My parents and I just went out to meet with the surgical team as well as the OB and neonatologist this week. We were so impressed with everything that UCSF stood for. They had such an organized manor. They really understood the complexities of gastroschisis as well as simply having a baby with a congenital anomaly. Everyone was more than willing to give us a tour of the facility, find us housing, you name it they were there to help! We were able to meet Dr. Farmer and Dr. Lee, both surgeons that specialize in gastroschisis, they also have an amazing reputation in Phoenix. They gave us the rundown of the surgery as well as complications that can arise. We were able to meet with Dr. Hopkins, the OB, who set Dylan's birthday. On November 14th I will go in and have an amnioscentisis to make sure that Dylan's lungs are strong enough to thrive outside of the womb. If all goes well then I will be induced on the spot. If Dylan's lungs need some more development then I will be injected with steroids for the next 2 days and another anmio will be done on the 16th. If all is well then, then the induction happens again. If not, we just keep repeating. November 14th is 37 weeks gestationally for Dylan. Some babies come as early as 35 weeks, so it will be very important to have the stress tests done to make sure that I am in the right place when this little girl comes. The only thing that has me worried was when Dr. Hopkins said "BE PREPARED FOR 4 DAYS OF LABOR!!!" What?!?! This isn't what I signed up for. 4 days of labor? At least the laboring rooms overlook the Golden Gate Bridge. Dylan and I have had a "heart to heart", she has agreed that 4 hours of labor sounds good to her!
My mother devoted weeks of her time helping me research surgeons and facilities around the country to get Dylan to. We could not decide between two hospitals: Children's Hospital of Philly and University of California San Francisco. But as our research deepened and my fight with Insurance began, we realized that UCSF was the place for our little Dylan. They are the first hospital to develop in-utero surgeries. The team of doctors there actually specialize in Gastroschisis, they average almost 3 gastroschisis surgeries a week. Plus, Casey's family is not too far from the hospital (I think we figured out it was just about an hour).
My parents and I just went out to meet with the surgical team as well as the OB and neonatologist this week. We were so impressed with everything that UCSF stood for. They had such an organized manor. They really understood the complexities of gastroschisis as well as simply having a baby with a congenital anomaly. Everyone was more than willing to give us a tour of the facility, find us housing, you name it they were there to help! We were able to meet Dr. Farmer and Dr. Lee, both surgeons that specialize in gastroschisis, they also have an amazing reputation in Phoenix. They gave us the rundown of the surgery as well as complications that can arise. We were able to meet with Dr. Hopkins, the OB, who set Dylan's birthday. On November 14th I will go in and have an amnioscentisis to make sure that Dylan's lungs are strong enough to thrive outside of the womb. If all goes well then I will be induced on the spot. If Dylan's lungs need some more development then I will be injected with steroids for the next 2 days and another anmio will be done on the 16th. If all is well then, then the induction happens again. If not, we just keep repeating. November 14th is 37 weeks gestationally for Dylan. Some babies come as early as 35 weeks, so it will be very important to have the stress tests done to make sure that I am in the right place when this little girl comes. The only thing that has me worried was when Dr. Hopkins said "BE PREPARED FOR 4 DAYS OF LABOR!!!" What?!?! This isn't what I signed up for. 4 days of labor? At least the laboring rooms overlook the Golden Gate Bridge. Dylan and I have had a "heart to heart", she has agreed that 4 hours of labor sounds good to her!
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