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At 20 weeks gestation, we went in for a routine ultrasound/anatomy scan, mainly to check growth and gender of our baby.
It was then that they realized our baby was a girl!!! but that her heart was shifted too far to the left. We were
advised to wait four weeks and return for a repeat ultrasound.
At 24 weeks, they were still unsure of their diagnosis, but labeled it a cystic lung mass and advised us to wait even
more. Of course, Tim and I weren't about to keep on playing the waiting game, and began to research this and other conditions
on-line. This lead us to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
We flew to CHOP on October 22, 2004, because it is the number one hospital and also because they offered fetal surgery
for the initial (though incorrect) diagnosis of a cystic lung mass. It was the doctors of CHOP who correctly (and quickly)
diagnosed Theresa with CDH.
This is an actual MRI of Theresa while in the uterus taken at CHOP. It shows some of her abdominal
organs inside of her chest cavity (liver and bowel.)
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How We Chose Our Baby's Name
Selecting a name for a new baby is a momentous decision. Theresa received her first name from St. Therese' of Little
Flower. Tim's mom wanted to name each of her children "Theresa" if they were girls, but she was blessed with three sons
instead. So, Tim wanted to name HIS daughter Theresa. It is such a pretty and fitting name for our daughter.
As we researched the actual person, we realized how meaningful and appropriate . Saint Therese' is the
saint of "little miracles." During her life she exemplified "the little way" - performing the little task or most trivial
action with a truly humble heart to please the infant Jesus. She lived as a Carmelite nun from the age of 15 until her
death. Her small sacrifices brought her closer to God. She died at the age of 25 from tuberculosis, and was canonized
28 years later, in 1925.
Our Theresa will need many "little miracles" as well, and many small sacrifices must be made by our family during her
recovery and healing.
| Saint Therese' of Lisieux |
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| "The Little Flower" |
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