Welcoming a new baby is usually a time of joy, but for a couple from Tampa, their joyous expectation turned into a distressing ordeal.
Fourteen weeks into her pregnancy, Catherine Mornhineway, already a mother of three, was approaching the ultrasound appointment that would allow her and her partner, Andrew Ford, to see their unborn child for the first time.
Catherine’s morning sickness had subsided, and she began to feel the baby move. It was a period that was supposed to be filled with excitement.
Unfortunately, medical professionals informed Catherine and Andrew that their unborn child had a condition called anencephaly, which is rare and affects approximately one in 5,250 pregnancies.
The Cleveland Clinic explains, “It occurs when the fetal brain and skull don’t develop in your uterus as expected. You can lower your risk by taking the recommended dose of folic acid before and during pregnancy.”
Babies with anencephaly typically do not survive more than a few days, and many such pregnancies end in miscarriage.
After a second ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis, Catherine and Andrew learned they were expecting a girl.
Medical professionals informed the couple that termination is often considered the best course of action in these cases. However, after watching a scene from Grey’s Anatomy that depicted a similar situation, Catherine decided she wanted to carry her baby to term.
Catherine told the Tampa Bay Times, “I came across a Grey’s Anatomy clip about a character on the show that had a baby with this condition. And she went along with the pregnancy and donated organs [to other babies], and it really touched me.”
Their daughter, whom they named Haven, was born on December 11 at Florida Brandon Hospital. She lived for four days in the NICU.
Andrew shared with Fox13, “With the little bit of time that we got with her, we just wouldn’t trade any of it.”
The hospital allowed Catherine and Andrew to take Haven to the bereavement garden, where she sadly passed away shortly thereafter.
Andrew reflected, “She passed on my chest, and, you know, we were all just kind of snuggled into bed, and I just couldn’t think of a more beautiful way to say goodbye.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell at (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].