Introducing . . . AIDEN MATHEW BRAY

We would like to introduce our very special gift - Aiden Mathew Bray.

On July 7, 2009 at 18 weeks we went for the ultrasound that most parents wait for, to tell us whether it is a boy or girl. Both excited and anxious, Shane & I waited as the ultrasound tech started her magic and gave us a glimpse of our new addition. She checked the heart, stomach, profile, looked at the feet, legs, arms, hands and finally asked do we want to know?? It was a little boy!! At that time, the only thing I could think of is the old sitcom "My Three Sons". I was already trying to remember the names we had started writing down. Shane was estatic and trying to figure out all the pictures. The tech kept going back to look at the hands, she finally told us she had seen clenched hands and wanted to get another view, she also looked at the length of the arms. She said she didn't see any cysts, club feet, or any other problems and thought it was just a problem with the hands. I had a doctor's appointment after the ultrasound, so she led us out the back and said she would send the notes to the doctor but felt it was a condition that would be fixed at birth with surgery and/or casts.

We went to my doctor not knowing that she had called and possibly gave other clues. My doctor suggested it could be a mis-diagnosis but she did not normally call him, he gave a couple of suggestions to the sonogram as Down's Syndrome or Edward's Syndrome (Trisomy 18). My heart was breaking, in such a short period of time our lives had changed FOREVER. We had 2 beautiful and HEALTHY boys at home. He performed the AFP blood test and said the results would be back in 5 - 7 days. In the meantime, he told us that several fetal doctors come up from Baton Rouge one day a week and that just happened to be Wednesday (the next day), we were scheduled to leave on vacation on Wednesday but asked if we could be fit in and we could leave later. By that afternoon we had an appointment for 8:30 the next morning. We went home and finished packing our bags and got the boys ready for their beach trip. We dropped the boys off at my mother's and went to the Fetal Medicine Clinic, not knowing what to expect. We were called back and after the initial exam the doctor came in to perform the Level II ultrasound, he went slowly over ever inch of the baby and said that he saw 2 characteristics that were known factors of Trisomy 18. He suggested we do an Amniocentisis, the final results would take 7 - 10 days but the FISH results would be back by Friday (2 days away). He said that the tests would confirm his suspicions - TRISOMY 18. He explained more about it but the only words that registered were "failure to thrive" and with most probability I would not carry to term.

We walked out of the hospital knowing that we had 2 excited little boys waiting on their beach trip and us to take them. We thought about cancelling but we did not want to do that and thought it would get our minds off of things for at least the next 2 days until we received the call. The next 2 days were the best and worst days of our lives. Hunter has decided that he loved the water, he played in the waves and with other kids that he met. Mason was not as crazy about the gulf but loved the sand and pool. Friday came and waiting for the call was an eternity. The doctor called and confirmed our worst fears, the FISH test came back positive for Trisomy 18, this test has a 98% accuracy. After calling a few family and friends we decided to stay another day and think and spend time with the boys - all 3 of our boys.

We went back to my doctor on the Tuesday after we returned to town and the results from the AFP test were in and it was a 1 in 10 chance of Trisomy 18, that is 2 of 3 confirming results. The final results will be in on Friday. We went to see another perinatologist to answer some questions for us. Shane & I are not doctors and will try to explain this as easily as possible.

Trisomy 18 is the second most common trisomy or chromosome disorder and occurs when a baby has three of the eighteenth chromosome. This results in 47 chromosomes instead of the normal 46 in the affected cells. It is this extra genetic material that causes the problems associated with Trisomy 18.
Trisomy 18 is also called Edwards syndrome (or Edward's syndrome) and occurs in about 1:3000 live births. Unlike Down syndrome, Trisomy 18 is usually fatal, with most of the babies dying before birth and those who do make it to birth typically living only a few days. However, a small number of babies (<10%)> do live more than 1 month.

What this means to us and our family;we have decided to carry this baby boy to term and enjoy what time we are given. Relishing in the kicks even if few (one characteristic is reduced fetal movement). During the ultrasounds we have been told that the heart, stomach and kidneys are normal and should not have any problems through the pregnancy.

We continue to ask for prayers and support. God can work miracles and we do not know what he has in store for us. Thank you to everyone that has called, sent cards/letters, brought by food and shown us great support/love. We have been shown through this ordeal that we have great friends that show love and affection rather than just talk about it.