While everyone was overexcited to see the very first glimpse of the baby, they gathered in the room where Bonnie’s 20th-week ultrasound was taking place. The laughter, the tears in their eyes, the expressions of excitement—everything indicated how excited everyone was to welcome the baby into the family. However, as the ultrasound took place, the technicians’ facial expressions made it clear that something was wrong. He looked concerned and curious at the same time, and soon also called the obstetrician.
He was there to tell the family about how the baby would be born with some serious complications, multiple of them! He started with showing concern about the baby’s head, and later told the parents about how the nasal bone of the baby was not developed yet. It was an indication of how the baby would be born with Down syndrome. The diagnosis couldn’t be made official till her baby’s birth, and hearing what the doctor told shattered all that the couple had planned for so long. Thousands of questions occupied their minds, yet they failed to explain them. They knew the path ahead would be complex and challenging; however, for the baby, they had ot keep themselves together.
It was around Bonnie’s 35th birthday when the couple received a heartbreaking call from the hospital. Although the doctor had already put the entire situation clearly before them, they hoped for positive news. On the other side of the call, a paramedic was telling how further testing confirms that the baby would have Down syndrome. Accepting the fact was hard, but their love for the baby was immense. Bonnie thought about whether the baby would ever get a chance to live an everyday life, full of joy, just like other children, but the words of the doctors and from the call never left her mind.
The pregnancy that looked perfect previously was now all about visiting the hospital to get checked if the baby was fine regularly; the appointments never seemed to end! Soon, the heart defect also cleared in the next few days. The baby has two defects, an atrial and a ventricular, which also increases the chances of digestive complications. Rather than getting better, it kept getting tough for the hold to keep it all together, as internally they were broken since the scan day; however, they never stopped hoping for the best. Bonnie found herself smashing things around the house as there was no other way to take out all the anger and grief that had been piling up inside her. There was no way out of it now!
The couple already had a son, and with the birth of a second baby, they thought of a complete, beautiful family that lived happily ever after. Labour was induced two weeks after their son, Kai’s, first birthday. Giving birth was tougher this time, not just because of the physical pain but also the emotional and mental burden Bonnie had been coping with. Then came a beautiful baby who could make anyone fall in love with the gorgeous pair of eyes. Kitty Cosette Ola was born, and she looked perfect. Bonnie felt complete and grateful while she held her baby; however, it lasted only fifteen minutes before she was taken into the NICU.
The first few days of her life were all about going through multiple procedures and surgeries. When Kitty was five days old, a surgery to repair her intestines was conducted, whereas on the eighth day of being welcomed, her aorta was repaired. Every day was challenging, and it was hard for Bonnie to see her little warrior go through a different kind of pain every day. She feared the call that could arrive any moment, especially when Kitty suffered a seizure. After that day, Bonnie made a prayer that she never wanted to, that if God wanted to give her pain, he would rather take her away.
However, Kitty is now five weeks old, battling heart failure after her open-heart surgery. She was also allowed to come home with mom and dad, but the hospital is also like home, as most days, her health requires her to be taken to the hospital. Kitty is a radiant child; every time she smiles, it affirms her parents’ faith and reassures them. She is the greatest blessing of their life and will always be!
