We just found out today (confirmed) that our third baby boy has an arachnoid cyst in a very sensitive part of his brain (near the brain stem, pineal gland, etc...right in the center between the hemispheres). They can't tell us what will happen. If it grows it would kill him, if it doesn't he may have no symptoms...he could be born and still end up with it growing and have death/paralysis/seizures/other problems. No one knows anything other than 1) it will not go away 2) it will not be removable given its position in the brain. Aside from the cyst he is a healthy boy with a good heart, lungs, etc.
(!!!!!!! :-( !!!!!!)
The best they can tell us is to "wait and see"...multiple brain surgeries (shunts, etc..but not removal) are inevitable...death is possible...paralysis is likely..etc.
I'm 22 weeks along today. This is a nightmare. I have two healthy boys to care for, as well (they are my life...my oldest knows the baby is "sick"...we're having a hard time) I have a cousin who suffered a stroke in the womb and has lived his whole life partially blind, partially deaf with seizures and no ability to talk or even walk. I just can't live with the idea of bringing an innocent child into the world w/ the potential for so much suffering.
At the same time..that slim...one in a million chance...that he would be "clinically normal" with no symptoms and a veritable ticking time bomb in his head...
I'm going crazy. I want to have my baby the way I expected but I feel like it would be risking a lifetime of pain for him. My head tells me that aborting is the humane choice but my heart doesn't want anything to do w/ it. In addition I have suffered from problems w/ preeclampsia in each pregnancy so far and am currently showing trouble w/ my liver and possibly my heart.
I feel extremely guilty and confused. I don't want to be in this position. DH feels we should terminate and I do agree w/ him...the family feels the same way. We will probably have to go out of state for a termination due to laws in our home state, also.
I feel so lost right now. I can still feel him kick and I feel like my heart is being ripped out.
