More Cystic Hygroma Success Stories

From Lindsay Taylor~

My son, Gavin was diagnosed with fetal cystic hygromas (one on each side of his neck, each nearly as large as his head) at a 14-week ultrasound. At 20 weeks, the hygromas had completely resolved, but we were told there was a 75% or greater chance that he had Down's syndrome (since he was a male and therefore couldn't have Turner's) due to the hygromas and other Down's markers that were positive. We were encouraged to consider abortion but went ahead with an amnio & found out that his chromosomes were completely normal. We were still told that he could develop hydrops, possibly leading to organ failure and death. At around 30 weeks, it was discovered that I had low fluid (olighydramnios), which is associated with hydrops. We had to have serial Level II ultrasounds and fetal nonstress testing for the remainder of the pregnancy. Our son was born on July 16, 2007, COMPLETELY NORMAL AND PERFECT with NO signs whatsoever that anything was ever wrong. He is 4 years old now and is the absolute light of our life. I am horrified when I think that my doctor thought abortion was the best choice for us. If you receive this diagnosis, have hope. Don't give up on your baby until you have definite answers.


From Jenny Walker~
My son Kieron was born in November 1993, he had a large Cystic Hygrome on both sides of his neck, floor of his mouth & tongue involvement, when he was 15 months old he had a Tracky inserted for his airway, around 2 1/2 doctors told us that if he didn't have surgery to reduce the swelling around his neck and airway & the Hygroma grew he wouldn't have an airway left, he has 10 1/2 hours of surgery (de-bulking) 2 weeks before his 3rd birthday, tracky was removed 3 months later after laser surgery on his airway, Kieron hasn't looked back since. He plays hockey at a representative level, he is in year 12 at school, will be 18 in November this year. We have always treated him as any normal child, wouldn't ever wrap him in cotton, we let him live a normal life as possible. Kieron has alway's been a happy child and as he has gotten older has developed a very quick wit and is very funny at time. Hope my short history of Kieron can give hope to other children with Cystic Hygrome.....

From Cari Brooks-Allen~
 
Hi!! I want to share my story. I have a healthy 3 year old girl, then had 2 miscarriages (due to genetics), and a healthy pregnacy, but a 3 mo old girl with a cystic hygroma. Hers is under her arm. I just want everyone to know there can be a miracle and these babies can be born. At my 20 week ultrasound the tech couldn't get good pics of the heart, so they did a routine US at my next appt. 24 week US showed that there was fluid under the baby's arm. My mid-wife reffered me to a specialist, she had never seen this before. A week later I got to see the specialist, he said it was a cystic hygroma and then told me the sex of the baby, A Girl. (we wanted to be surpised) but due to the chance of Turner's Sydrome he told us. I was worried, but did research on both conditions. Very depressing, although the Dr never told us about her not surviving. I just looked on through all the bad things on the internet, and figured it was just for severe cases, and not for me. I went on having a perfect pregnancy, extra ultrasounds, and Cardio appts. Just a busy pregnancy. Had a perfect birth and a perfect baby. She does have the cystic hygroma, but is otherwise healthy, no chromosomal abnormalities. She had an MRI at 4 weeks old, and all went well. She will have surgery when she is 6-8 months old. We are just takig the time before that to enjoy the summer.


I just am very happy that I am blessed with such a miracle baby, as I did not know the stats about cystic hygromas and the survival of the pregnancy. I am vey greatful!!!