Santa came to see Maggie Rose a little early this year. She seemed excited about her gift, but I think she’s hoping the jolly man will return with more tricycles, unicorn pillow pets, and peanut brittle on the 25th.
What do y’all think of her gift?
Can you read her t-shirt? Kids always love getting clothes for Christmas, right?
Well, she’s gonna BEE a BIG sister!
In June, we hope.
Keep your fingers crossed. Like Maggie, Baby 2 has NAIT — neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.
Unlike Maggie, we know ahead of time.
In a nutshell, I won’t be joining Honeydew in California this year. I’ll soon be headed to the hospital once a week to receive infusions of an amazing substance called IVIG. Shortly after her birth, Maggie Rose received several infusions of IVIG before she received her donor platelets. Together, the IVIG and the platelets, combined with the care of our amazing doctors and nurses, especially Dr. Ribgy, saved Maggie’s life.
Now, our doctors hope that by giving me big doses of IVIG, we’ll avoid the NICU entirely for Baby 2. If you’ve been affected by NAIT, leave a comment, will you? It’s pretty rare, and we’d love to talk to someone who’s had a second NAIT baby, especially if you’ve undergone the IVIG therapy.
No cause for undue alarm, though. All pregnancies are fragile, and we are in very good hands.
We think a sibling will be the greatest gift we ever give Maggie Rose, and hopefully, one day she will agree.
Merry Christmas to our own brothers and sisters, who know why we are the way that we are, even when we wish they did not.
If you’d like more information on donating platelets, click here.
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December 19, 2012 at 11:43 am
WONDERFUL news! Congrats!!! She will be the best big sis!!! xoxo
January 12, 2013 at 10:45 am
I think so, too! Happy new year, Lindsey – loved your year in review yesterday.
December 19, 2012 at 11:48 am
Super congratulations! B2 will be just as precious as Maggie Rose no doubt! What a wonderful gift!
January 12, 2013 at 10:44 am
Thanks so much, Jen!
December 19, 2012 at 11:50 am
Congratulations! What an amazing gift!
January 12, 2013 at 10:44 am
Thanks so much, Sarah!
December 19, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Yeah!!!! Wonderful!!! So excited for the three of you!!! 🙂
January 12, 2013 at 10:43 am
Thanks, Aub! Happy new year!
December 19, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Hey Courtney, Congratulations on your news! I do not have any experience with NAIT but I did have thrombocytopenia during my pregnancy. I was super fatigued and was given steroids at the end of my pregnancy to hopefully raise my platelet count for delivery which was unsuccessful. Luckily, the only bad part of thrombocytopenia for the Mother is no epidural (because of risk of spinal hematoma). They checked Anne Rankin’s immediately after delivery and they were normal. I had not heard of NAIT until now and never questioned them checking hers but I guess that means there is a link between the mother’s platelet count and the baby’s? So, sorry, I don’t have insight for you but this is something I will definitely ask more about next go round. Good luck and Merry Christmas!
January 12, 2013 at 10:43 am
Adele,
Thanks so much for the comment – I hadn’t thought about the differences in maternal and neonatal thrombocytopenia – you’re right, two very different things but sounds like they’re equally scary! So glad it all ended well for you and AR.
I don’t think there is a link between mom and baby’s platelet counts – in this case, Greg gives our babies a piece of platelet DNA that I am essentially allergic to, so my body wants to evict baby. Definitely worth asking about for baby 2, though.
Happy new year!
December 19, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Congratulations to all of you. A wonderful Christmas present for your family.
January 12, 2013 at 10:41 am
Thanks, Sandy!
December 19, 2012 at 1:54 pm
What a special gift! Our congratulations to all of you and we wish you a very Merry Christmas. Will you be staying in Babb or in Kalispell this winter? Roman, Carrie and Colter are staying with us the 22nd and 23rd. Come over if you get a chance, okay?
January 12, 2013 at 10:39 am
Thanks so much Raenell! Due to the infusions, I will be in columbia falls quite a bit this winter. Will be in Georgia the 22nd and 23rd – so sorry to miss the fun. Let me know when you’re headed to the west side!
December 19, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Oh, congratulations!! And I think you’re absolutely right about Maggie Rose’s best present ever!!
Take good care and you all have a fabulous Christmas!!
January 12, 2013 at 10:38 am
Thanks so much, Annelle! Happy New Year!
December 19, 2012 at 2:55 pm
So happy for you and can’t wait to meet my new niece or
nephew next this summer. :O)
January 12, 2013 at 10:35 am
Many thanks!
December 19, 2012 at 5:49 pm
What a wonderful Christmas gift and a wonderful place and
way to make the announcement. Congratulations!
January 12, 2013 at 10:28 am
Thanks so much, Vickie!
December 19, 2012 at 7:17 pm
congrats and prayers for a healthy mom and baby !
January 12, 2013 at 10:25 am
Thanks so much!
December 19, 2012 at 8:16 pm
such wonderful, happy, thrilling news!!!! congrats, mama!!
January 12, 2013 at 10:25 am
Thanks, Callie!
December 19, 2012 at 8:18 pm
WOW !!!!! Congrats !!! Such exciting news !!!! They’ll be 2 yrs apart ? Perfect !!!! Saw your Mom last night & she told you were staying here but not the “real” why……now I know !!!!! When Heidi had her 2nd one….she sent Henry to our house & he was wearing a T shirt that said he was going to be the big brother in March…..really cute & fun way for “us” to find out !
Sounds like you have a handle on the NAIT……I’ll read up on the platelets & see if I can help you out. I’m as healthy as they come……SOOO happy for you both !!!!!! many hugs….Shar
December 19, 2012 at 8:53 pm
What a wonderful gift! Congratulations!
January 12, 2013 at 10:25 am
Best one I know of. Thanks, Ape!
December 19, 2012 at 9:09 pm
What beautiful, wonderful, fantastic news!! Maggie Rose
will be the most fabulous big sister!! So happy for all of
you!
January 12, 2013 at 10:24 am
Won’t she? Being a big sis is the best! Thanks, Kara!
December 20, 2012 at 6:31 am
Congratulations! We’ll be keeping you all in our prayers for a safe delivery and healthy baby.
January 12, 2013 at 10:24 am
Thanks so much, Gael.
December 20, 2012 at 7:24 am
Congrats Maggie Rose and Mommy and Daddy! Love and prayers for a safe pregnancy and healthy happy new edition!
January 12, 2013 at 10:24 am
Thanks, Jess!
December 20, 2012 at 10:49 am
Yippee! More stories coming from Montana! I didn’t have NAIT and know nothing about it. I did have a couple of ‘different’ pregnancies. The second was a little less stressful because the doctors knew what to look for on the second one. Weekly sonograms for us and two wonderful babies as I am sure you will have also.
Merry Christmas
January 12, 2013 at 10:20 am
Happy new year, Patrice! Thanks for the excitement.
December 20, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Yeah! Congrats! Love your reveal too!
January 12, 2013 at 10:19 am
Thanks, Raylee! Happy new year!
December 20, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Okay, I read the info on being a donor & I’d LOVE to do that to help you. Can I ask for it to for you ? I know I have B+ blood. I’ll call after Xmas as I have no time until then…..thanks for the info & I’ll pass the info out to my family too. Merry Christmas…..Shar
January 12, 2013 at 10:18 am
Oh, my GOSH Sharon, what an offer! IVIG, the blood product that I need, is made up of a lot of people’s platelets, so no, you can’t earmark it for me, but there aren’t enough accolades under the sky to express my appreciation to anyone willing to donate their platelets. Best gift we could ever ask for. Hope to hug your neck soon. And so sorry for the delayed response – we enjoyed our Christmas break, and hope that you did, too! xo
December 29, 2012 at 5:18 am
Hi I’m a naitmum from the Uk I help run a charity set up to support parents affected by Nait. http://Www.naitbabies.org we have a support group . If you would like more info please email me direct. stacy@naitbabies.org
December 29, 2012 at 5:19 am
Sorry hit send too soon, we have members from all over the world we are the only charity in the world for Nait.. But it’s not as rare as its made out to be..lol.
December 29, 2012 at 5:25 am
I’m naitmum from the UK and had all the Ivig to, congrats onthe pregnancy.. I help run a new charity set up to support and raise awareness of Nait.. http://www.naitbabies.org.
We have members worldwide so there could even be a local mum. It’s not as rare as they like to say..lol. We have online support
If you would like more information please email me direct stacy@naitbabies.org
January 1, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Congratulations!! That is such wonderful news! How exciting!
January 12, 2013 at 10:16 am
Thanks, Ashley! We’re thrilled.
January 6, 2013 at 10:35 am
I’m a nait mum from the UK. We have set up a non profit organisation to support and raise awareness of Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia. Fnait/Fmait /Ait/Nait.
http://www.naitbabies.org
January 12, 2013 at 10:14 am
Thanks again for reaching out to us, Stacy.
February 12, 2013 at 4:49 pm
[…] now I’m sitting on a hospital bed in Whitefish, Montana, receiving the first infusion of IVIG that we hope will protect Dos Ittles from his/her mama. I’m on bottle 6 of 12, hour 6 of 15. Until delivery — sometime in June […]