Happy Birthday, Brielle!

Sixteen years ago today, Brielle was born.

I had the chicken pox when I was six week pregnant. Our doctors watched the pregnancy very carefully. There was a risk that our child would be born without arms and legs. Our baby appeared perfectly healthy for many months.

When I was eight months pregnant, an ultrasound showed our baby's head circumference was small. An amnio showed cytomeglovirus (CMV). We had new concerns. Doctors told us there was a 40% chance that our baby would die at birth due to liver complications. There was a high risk for hearing loss, seizures, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation as well as other health complications. It was a long month waiting for our child to be born.

Brielle was born on February 13, 1996. She was beautiful! More importantly, she was healthy. No liver damage. No hearing loss. No health complications at all. A CT scan showed there were several small calcifications on the left side of her brain. We could only wait to see what impact those would have on her life.

It is sixteen years later and there was an impact on her life. But, there was also an impact my life. Changes. Big changes. Yes, I was changed by a child, my sweet child.

Today we celebrated her precious life. Balloons, cake and presents, of course! But also by remembering these last 16+ years. There are more happy times than sad ones and right now, that's all that matters!

Happy Sweet 16th Birthday, Brielle!!!!