Hello meet Anareli! Our little brave warrior. Our 24-week ultrasound started out like I’m assuming normal as she was my first pregnancy, I didn’t really know what to expect. We got to see her little feet, her head and little hands waving at us, even a yawn! But even as a first-time mom I knew something was wrong when the ultrasound tech kept slowing down looking at her through the screen. We were told the high-risk Dr. now needed to speak with us and tell us what was happening. High risk? I thought what’s that mean I never knew there was such a thing. Once we were seated, he started to explain what was happening. We found out that I had very little amniotic fluid and Anarelis kidneys were infused together with multiple cysts and was most likely not functioning. She was diagnosed with multi-cystic dysplastic kidney disease (MCDK) and they couldn’t see her bladder, I went numb I stopped listening and began to cry. As he continued to explain the only options we had were to abort her or continue and have her pass in my arms when I gave birth. I wasn’t going to give up what I prayed and begged God for years. We chose to continue regardless of the outcome.
From then on, I was seen weekly for an ultrasound to make sure she had enough amniotic fluid and each time they would say it was slowly dropping but that somehow, she was making enough to survive. I never knew this, but the baby’s urine is what makes up the amniotic fluid and if my baby also had a problem with her bladder how was the fluid still there. They were confused and wanted to add on extra ultrasounds to make sure they didn’t miss anything.
Fast forward to 34 weeks I went in for my regular ultrasound to make sure her fluid was good. Once again, the tech had that look on her face and I immediately knew something was wrong. She called the Dr in to get a look himself and once he was done, he said “I will see you in my office” words I didn’t want to hear because I knew something was coming. I sat in office with himself and another high-risk Dr. both looking at me telling me that Anareli had hydrops (a condition in which large amounts of fluid buildup in a baby’s tissues and organs, causing extensive swelling) and I was going to have her ASAP.
About 3 days later she was born. The Dr held her up for me to see then she was rushed to be examined. Everything after that was a blur until I got to see her the next day. She was so tiny and fragile I was afraid to hold her since she was intubated and I was not allowed to move her do to medical advice at Kaiser. Once she was transferred, she spent the first 145 days of her life at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital where she showed us the fight that she has. She has been in and out of the hospital for peritonitis and other complications she’s had. She lives at home now and is on dialysis for 12 hours a day and is fed by her gtube. We cannot wait until she no longer has to be on dialysis and can eat by mouth once she gets her new kidney. This is the hardest journey of our life but one so worth every minute. Her odds were low and she has overcome so many battles at a young age. She has so much love and support around her and God is on her side. She has changed the lives of everyone she comes into contact with. She is our little miracle sent from heaven to show us all what miracles are.
The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation’s only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA’s services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.