FA Family Newsletter - Fanconi Anemia Research Fund

At Last, Success!By Holly MirendaFamily NewsOur family welcomed Georgia Elizabeth Mirendainto the world at 12:01 a.m. on June 26, 2011, afteronly 16 minutes in the hospital. While her deliverywas expeditious, we had been awaiting Gigi’s arrival forseveral years.We’ve been blessed with many things in our livestogether, including wonderfully happy children, anincredibly supportive and loving family, and exceptionalmedical care. It’s clear now that we were also blessedwith patience. We began our in vitro fertilization/preimplantationgenetic diagnosis (IVF/PGD) journey infall 2008 and ultimately completed nine rounds beforebecoming pregnant in October 2010.When we first learned about the possibility of preselectinga healthy embryo and a human leukocyteantigens (HLA) match through IVF/PGD, we knewimmediately that this would be our path forward forour family and for our daughter Sofia’s health (Sofiahas FA). Even with this absolute conviction, however,our patience, reasoning and emotional strength werethoroughly tested: the seemingly endless hours on theroad for appointments, two lost early pregnancies, andthe many times we arrived at the clinic, hopeful for anembryo transfer—and left brokenhearted.Having two young kids, Sofia and Teddy, at homewhile facing this challenge helped to keep us focused,and, well, busy. It also complicated family discussionsabout health. Looking back, it was Teddy’s anxietyabout Mommy’s health that was perhaps the toughestemotional part of our process. He was obviously tooyoung to grasp the entire situation, but old enoughto notice Mommy’s absences, moods and shots. Weexplained the shots by saying that families sometimesneed a little medicine to help make babies. (A funnyside story was when Teddy told a friend that babies aremade by mommies putting shots in their tummies.) Sofiawas young enough not to notice what was happening,except when Mom was gone before dawn on yet anotherround trip to see the doctors or too tired to read storiesat bedtime.Nothing was easy about the process. Much like thekid’s game Chutes and Ladders, it seemed that every timewe climbed higher, we hit a point where we’d slide down,and sometimes off the game board. Deep down, wetrusted that someday we would be made whole.We’re now witness to the love and joy that patienceand faith has brought to our family. Baby Gigi is notaffected by FA, although she is a carrier like we are. Sheis also an HLA match for Sofia. We collected and storedher cord blood at birth, to be used when Sofia needs atransplant.Much like the kid’s game Chutesand Ladders, it seemed that everytime we climbed higher, we hit apoint where we’d slide down, andsometimes off the game board.Throughout the physical and emotional rollercoaster,we kept faith in Sofia’s ability to remain healthy, as wellas in our amazing team of nurses, doctors and geneticists.We have to take the opportunity to sing the praisesof CNY Fertility and Dr. Mark Hughes at GenesisGenetics. The care, faith and comfort that they extendedto us were as important as the science that helped bringus baby Gigi.Sofia is now 6, beautiful, and has an energy that thrillsus every single day. She and Teddy (8) are completelysmitten with Gigi. Now that Gigi is starting to smile, weknow that the feeling is mutual.14 Family Newsletter #50