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SOPHIE' S STORY
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We were prenatally diagnosed at 17 wks. with the triple marker blood test showing abnormal results and referred to a periantologist in peoria. they confirmed the trisomy 18 diagnosis through amniocentesis. they also performed a level 3 ultrasound and seen a distinctive heart defect, and a cyst on her brain. we went back every month for a ultrasound and 2 mos. later the cyst had dissolved by itself but her heart was the biggest concern. her dr. called it a hypoplastic left side and also a whole in the top chambers of her heart. we were told these babies are incompatible with life from the beginning, but with her heart they said hours, maybe days but she would not come home with us. on jan. 16, 2003 (our chosen date) to be induced we arrived at the hospital around 6:00 a.m. the pitocin started around 7:30, we were told I was already having small contractions. An ultrasound showed Sophie was still in the breech position, but since she was small we could still have a natural birth. The nurses were great and so understanding. The Dr. tried to turn Sophie but she refused to budge!! I was in labor all day and around 8:00 p.m. Sophie's heart rate started dropping, so we were told I was having a C-section. I was terrified, even though she was our fourth daughter. I knew our whole family was here with us. Our pastor had also endured the long day at the hospital, he would baptize Sophie after she arrived. At 9:02, Sophia Marie Isabelle Lowry was born!! As I watched Mark and the nurses working on her waiting for that cry it seemed like an eternity. I watched one of the drs. counting her breathing, one suctioning her out and then a cry, the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. Sophie weighed in at 3# 15 1/2 oz and was 17" long. she was beautiful. tiny but absolutely wonderful. She did take a little bottle by herself, but not enough and had to have a ng tube. we stayed in the hospital for 5 days and came home on my birthday. what a gift! she was tube fed until mid-March. We were glad to see that go. She has had to have put back in several times when she has had severe colds and could not suck, but that hasn't happened since June. She loves her bottles and eats cereal and food. Her faves are pears and sweet potatoes. She did not care for peaches at all, I wore most of them each time we tried them. Sophie sees her cardiologist every 6 weeks now and her pediatrician as needed. She has been fabulous with all of us, even has made a few house calls. thank goodness. Sophie does not like to sleep much, she is just too nosy I guess. She sleeps for about 2-3 hours at a time and about 10 hours a day total. She is loved and adored by her sisters. They love to hold her and feed her. Sophie is usually happy. She squeals at us and talks with her hands. We've figured out most of her 'words'. She just smiles all the time, except when there is a camera present. I've been able to catch her a couple times with luck. Sophie rolled over the first time Aug. 21 and she has several times since. These are things that were not supposed to be according to drs. The biggest problem for Sophie has been ear infections. She is now 9 months old and weighs 8#12 oz. and 23" long. She is so sweet and such a blessing. Everyday we do thank God we still have her with us. the drs. say 90% do not live past their 1st birthday. We have 2 very special angels looking out for her and for us. Her cousins, Kari and Amber who left us April 2002. Every day there is a new challenge for us and her. She is so strong and determined. Some things are trial and error with her. She has thick secretions at times and we have used robitussin dm and Pepsi. they both work well, but she enjoys the Pepsi much better. We have had several touch and go times with her and they take a toll on our whole family. she has pulled through some scary times with no explanations. We celebrate her on the 16th of every month. We get to eat cake and ice cream, this last month she had some also
THIS WEBSITE HAS BEEN CREATED TO KEEP FAMILY~FRIENDS AND VISITORS INFORMED AND UPDATED ON SOPHIE'S PROGRESS..
SOPHIE LIKES
BABY DOLLS
AND
BABY ELEPHANTS !
VISIT SOPHIE'S QUILT OF LOVE STITCHED WITH LOVE BY ANGEL JANE CLICK HERE
PLEASE BE SURE TO SIGN THE GUESTBOOK SO WE CAN TELL SOPHIE ABOUT ALL THE NICE FOLKS WHO CAME BY TO LEAVE MESSAGES OF LOVE~PRAYERS~SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT
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THANK YOU FOR VISITING SOPHIA ! COME BACK SOON !
DOLL GIFS FROM SURFN SUE ! CLICK HERE
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Journal
Wednesday, February 4, 2004 10:00 PM CST Sophie had a cardiologist appt. on the 7th.
He said she was doing so well, somehow her little heart had taken over for everything she didn't have in there and was compensating well. On the 9th Sophie woke up from her nap very sick, a terrible cold. I was already concerned before we even took her to her Dr. She treated her as ususal and couldn't tell us anything since Sophie had turned bad spells into good so many times.
This time was so different.
Monday she was okay for the most part, that evening she went into like a coma state and stayed that way all night. A dr. visit was first thing Tuesday A.M. She had already started pulling out of it and being responsive. Tuesday she would eat and only stay awake for tiny bits at a time. Tues. night, she was staying awake longer and eating alittle bit more, we were starting to think we were on our up and we would be better before Friday, Sophie's first Birthday. She woke up around 5:00 and stayed up to talk to her grandma, mom was taking a nap. Then Sophie spent a good time with each of her sisters before they had to go to school.
This is very hard to write. Sophie died January 14 around 8:30 am. I was holding her in my arms. She was so beautiful as always. she was wide awake and doing her little talking. Then I took her at eight. and we was doing our usual goofy things, we had her disco light going, her song going and we were going to dance. We were just singing and a tear rolled down her cheek and I told her don't cry. She looked up at that crazy disco light on the ceiling and back at me, that was the last thing she could do. She was gone. Nothing.
I didn't know what to do. We thought she was on the way to recovery. Her birthday was in 2 days,16th. Now instead of her party to finish we was preparing her visitation and service. We had Cookie come sing for her and us at the service and we had a balloon release at the cemetery. It was so cold but sunny. She was laid to rest on my dad. She was so remarkable. I would never trade her for anything, I feel so blessed and honored more than anything to be called her mom. This is terrible horrible pain. She is worth so much. To find a way for her to live on is my duty now. I want everyone to know how special these babies are all babies are special but these are so much more. People don't realize that. It takes so many special families to know that and I know all of you are that type of family. Sophie could amaze us everyday, and most of the time more than once in the same day. She is my strength. She knows I need it.
Amy Lowry mom to Jessica, Katie, Libby, and my angel Sophie
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