At her 12 week scan in August 2006, Louise was told that her unborn baby had a cystic hygroma and fetal hydrops. Further scans at the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary revealed that the baby was very poorly and the prognosis was very bleak - indeed two separate consultants gave the baby only a 5% chance of survival. Additionally Louise and her husband, Chris, were advised that, even if the baby did reach full-term, he or she could have one of three chromosonal disorders (Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome and the fatal Edwards Syndrome).
In August 2006, faced with this potentially devastating news Louise and Chris decided to let the baby determine its own fate. They agreed to be positive and asked their friends to do likewise. Newcastle RVI did not want to scan any further and Louise and Chris were referred back to their local hospital in Darlington. The weeks went by and every fortnight the scans remained the same.
Then, in late October, at a routine scan the hydrops had disappeared and the hygroma began to reduce - the positive thinking had worked. In December 2006 Rosie came into the world, albeit seven weeks early, a little girl who fought against long odds to defy the medical profession.
Rosie is completely healthy, she has Turner's syndrome which is a minor chromosonal condition that mainly affects height and fertility - however, it has no impact on IQ or life expectancy. Turner's girls live very normal, fulfilling lives.
This website celebrates Rosie's successful fight for life and Louise and Chris hope that their experiences will help any other parents-to-be who find themselves faced with a similar decision.
A full version of this story is here http://www.benotafraid.net/story.asp?id=139
If you would like to contact Louise and Chris about their experience please email us.