In this story you will get to know s story of hoe becoming a young mom to a special need child changed of life
I began my education studies degree in 2021. I was grateful to be attending university more so because of my Somali mother, who wanted a daughter with a degree. Towards the end of my first year, at the beginning of 2013, I fell pregnant with my firstborn. I was 19 at the time. I was smacked with a ball of emotions. An overwhelming feeling comes over you and I was anxious, scared, nervous, and very excited.
At my 12-week scan extra fluid behind my baby neck was found which immediately caused me panic.
after my 16-week scan reassured me, everything was fine but at 28 weeks a call from the hospital led to scan at great Ormond Street where i learned life changing news.
As I laid on the bed in the ultrasound room with my sister, we were surrounded by doctors’ things change on 13 September 2013. The scan took around an hour, but it felt longer with the tension in the room as the doctors checked the images and talked quietly amongst themselves. I was informed of a follow-up meeting in 30 mins. However, both me and sister were sceptical as nothing felt right, but we put our faith in Allah and hoped for the best. After a short while, we were called in…
As a young mother i was overwhelmed but doctors suggesting I consider terminating my pregnancy due to heart defects i focused on protecting my baby education myself through YouTube and holding onto faith.
I had the smoothest pregnancy with Adam! I didn’t have much morning sickness and thankfully, my body didn’t change much (apart from the bump). I was quite slim to be fair. People barely knew I was pregnant and when I was due, people thought I was like 5 to 6 months, which seemed funny to me.
Two days overdue i walked miles and did squats hoping to bring on Labor my mom knew it was time told me to rest and i finally went to bed around midnight
Christmas Day, I was woken up at 4 a.m. with sharp pains. I didn’t want to wake up my mom, who was sleeping next to me. I tried to ignore the pain, but it was too heavy and was getting stronger and tighter. I went to the toilet and saw blood. Blood? I was shocked, scared and confused. What was happening? I thought, ‘I got to get this baby out safe and well.’ I woke my mom up and she drove me to the hospital.
When I give birth, my son rushed away his feet turned inward from talipes I was terrified wondering if he’d ever walk
I felt lost and empty after giving birth with my baby in intensive care
Adam was moved to Great Ormand street Hospital that same night. Once he got there, he had an Echocardiogram, a scan which investigates the structure of the heart, blood vessels and pumping chambers. I couldn’t go with him because I needed to stay a full 24 hours to be discharged. Adam had to have a cardiac Cather, which is a groin surgery. Imagine the feeling of not being able to see or be with your child through the toughest of times.
after Adam sugary i was grateful to finally hold him though the constant worry never stopped.
Adam feet were molded weekly by weeks. Imagine a newborn being casted and his feet being manipulated, but this was something that had to be done to fix his feet. They reassured me the outcome would be so worth it and I believed them. Some days I had the power to see the future and some days, I just stood there and cried and listened to him cry his eyes out, but this was the only solution for us. After those 6 weeks, Adam was given a melt brace (which is called boots and bars) to wear for 23 hours of his day for the next 6 months.
Going to GOSH for a follow up, the nurse called us in to check his height, weight, oxygen levels and heart rate. I could hear the beeping of the machine and could see lights going from amber to red. I could also see the panic in the nurse’s face. My heart was racing.
The doctor told us Adam needs a open heart sugary at 4 months due to his heart issues.
singing the constant form was terrifying watching Adam go into surgery broke my heart i felt overwhelmed with fear and sorrow
We received a small, blue bleep machine which indicates when Adam will be out of surgery. I was told the surgery would initially take 6 hours, which then turned into 8. Imagine! Those extra 2 hours left me on edge. All you could see me do was bite my nails whilst pacing up and down. I knew whatever happened, it was in Allah’s plan.
They said they would ween him off the drugs bit by bit, day by day until his body was ready. This process took about 10 days and thanking my almighty God, Adam slowly started to feed through this tube and slowly move around again. I felt like I could semi breathe again.
I was scared but learned to care for him. We adjust, adapt and change as we need to. I did better than I thought I would or could. At 20 years old, the challenges I faced shaped me into the woman I am today.
Despite everything I went through in my young adult life, it made me who I am today, the woman I am today, the mother I am today. 7 years on, I have had two beautiful daughters and Adam last sugary was in august and I am finally ready to share our journey.
