Thanks for visiting my page! Please help me with my fundraising by contributing to this great cause! Maddie's Footprints is a non-profit organization that helps families in Acadiana who suffer the loss of an infant. Emily was introduced to Maddie's after receiving the diagnosis of Baylor. They provided counseling throughout her pregnancy as she prepared to deliver, as well as setting up Baylor's funeral services. After delivery, Emily and Derek are both offered counseling services through Maddie's. This organization helps people like Emily and Derek, making this unfortunate situation a little more bearable.
Baylor's Story
At 15 weeks, Emily's OBGYN realized that her amniotic fluid was low, and she was referred to an MFM. At that appointment, they concluded that Baylor had not developed kidneys, and this diagnosis was fatal. There was some hope, due to it being so early on, that maybe the kidneys would show in the weeks to come. But the diagnosis stayed true, and at 18 weeks, Emily reached zero percent of amniotic fluid. She could go into labor at any time, and the doctors even mentioned that she could lose Baylor at any moment as well. Emily decided to keep praying and to hold on to Baylor for as long as she could. Completing the second trimester with no fluid was exciting. Baylor was holding on! Each day, Emily would get home and pull out her Doppler to check Baylor's heartbeat, where each time she would hear just how strong his heartbeat was. He was not giving up, so neither would she. Now deep into the third trimester, Baylor was growing, with each ultrasound and each heartbeat check, Emily would feel a sense of calmness, that her angel was holding on and still fighting. Emily went into labor naturally at 35 weeks. The entire process was so calm and beautiful, and she was finally able to meet her baby boy. Baylor was delivered ALIVE and made sure to look into his mother's eyes! Baylor lived for about 30 minutes and passed away on his dad's chest.
Bilateral Renal Agenisis
A rare and often fatal condition where a baby's kidneys fail to develop during pregnancy. This absence of kidneys leads to a severe lack of amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios), which is crucial for lung development, and results in pulmonary hypoplasia. Babies with BRA typically do not survive long after birth due to respiratory failure. Baylor was born with his heart beating, but he was not breathing. He did not show any signs of struggling and passed peacefully.
