Follow-up Consultation

Dr. Odibo (from Wilmington) had my local OB/GYN, Dr. McCallum, have us in for a follow-up consultation to convey the seriousness of the issue to the both of us; she wasn’t sure she had told me how concerned she was for the baby in the previous days for my sake– knowing I was by myself and had quite a drive to make home.

Dr. McCallum shared this with us and gave us the opportunity to ask questions. She answered them to the best of her ability, but added she had never seen a case of arthrogryposis, and had to research it before meeting with us.

She then told us they were “very concerned” that I would lose the baby, or baby would die shortly after birth. I don’t really remember much of the conversation after that, but my overall impression is that Dr. McCallum wasn’t very hopeful, although compassionate.

She did say we still had time to terminate the pregnancy if we so chose. We definitely won’t be aborting our child. We know that he/she was created by God and given to us in their condition to honor and glorify Him. We will love this baby for as long as we are privileged to be the parents.

The news that we would more than likely lose this child was heavy on us that day. But we know that it is for our good and God’s glory. May he be merciful in his will; healing the child, taking the child, or physically limiting him/her.

Babies that do live with this condition can adapt to semi-normal lives with early physical therapy intervention and corrective surgeries. And again, arthrogryposis is the suspected cause of the baby’s position. This hasn’t been confirmed yet.