Mum ignored medical advice to terminate pregnancy and gave birth to 'perfect little girl'
A mum ignored repeated medical advice from doctors to terminate her pregnancy and in the end, gave birth to a healthy baby girl who defied all odds.
Katie White, 24, had a completely normal pregnancy until she reached 20 weeks when her baby's health was revealed to be in danger.
However, during a standard ultrasound check-up at Mercy Hospital, in Missouri's St Louis, US, the scan revealed something was very wrong.
A specialist doctor analysed the ultrasound, before revealing to Katie that her unborn baby girl was diagnosed with hydrocephalus - the medical name for a build-up of fluid on the brain.
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As a result, the specialist predicted the worst and said baby Kensley would likely never be able to walk, talk or eat.
Mum Katie was told to consider terminating her pregnancy, but instead she decided to continue.
Now despite having hydrocephalus, Kensley is 14 months old and is a happy little baby, reaching all her milestones.
Proud mum Katie described Kensely as a 'perfect happy little girl', before confessing that she’s 'sassy and smart' and surprises her mum every day with new things she can do.
However, despite her happy go lucky nature, she has faced some hurdles along the way.
Discussing the initial diagnosis, Katie, who works as a nursery assistant, revealed: "I was distraught and bawling my eyes out. They immediately tried to get me in contact with family planning to terminate the pregnancy.
"I needed to go home and think. I couldn’t make such a huge decision off the back of one doctor’s advice and I thank my lucky stars that I did.
"My daughter would not be here today if I had taken that advice.”
At 30 weeks pregnant, Katie was yet again given the same advice to terminate the pregnancy, with her confessing: "It was overwhelming. I was scanned again in a room full of unfamiliar faces - it was awful."
Katie had emergency C-section at 5.30pm and baby Kensley was born on May 23rd 2021, at 6.59am, weighing 6lbs 7oz.
However, Katie was only able to hold her newborn for five minutes until she was whisked away.
"I was overjoyed seeing my baby for the first time, but it was bittersweet knowing she would have to be taken away," said Katie.
Kensley was doing well despite her hydrocephalus, and doctors drained the fluid in her brain, but Katie decided not to have a shunt fitted - a device put into the brain which controls the excess liquid.
"I was petrified it could go wrong and wanted to explore other options first such as ECT, electroconvulsive therapy and ETV, Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy," she said.
After seven days, baby Kensley was allowed to go home, but at two weeks old she had her first surgery to drain some of the liquid.
Later, Kensley was struck with rhinovirus and medics discovered there was also fluid leaking out of her brain onto her body. An MRI revealed the only option was to have a shunt fitted.
Katie revealed: "It felt like the end of the world to me. I was petrified. I was scared to see her after the surgery for the first time and I completely lost it. She was wrapped up in blankets and looked so sweet, comfortable, and happy.
"She was a completely different child and I felt so bad that she could have had the shunt fitted sooner but I just did what I thought was best at the time."
Four months after the shunt was fitted, Kensley had an MRI scan and her brain growth had succeeded all expectations.
Katie explained: "She hasn’t ever had a seizure, she eats by mouth and can see. She absolutely loves food and eats like a horse."
Now at 14 months old, baby Kensley appears to be a healthy and happy baby. Yet only time will tell if she develops further symptoms as some children with hydrocephalus can suffer with their mobility and can have behavioural problems.
“She is so full of character and is my little angel I wouldn’t change her for the world," she said.
Katie is now expecting her second child with her boyfriend, Ty, 26, a police officer.
Niamh Spence