A MOM who ignored repeated medical advice to terminate her pregnancy has revealed her joy after welcoming a healthy baby girl.
Nursery assistant Katie White, 24, from St Louis, Missouri, had a completely normal pregnancy up until she reached 20 weeks.
She went in for a standard ultrasound check-up in hospital, but as soon as the scan appeared on screen it was clear something was wrong.
A specialist doctor analysed the ultrasound, and her unborn baby girl was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a build-up of fluid on the brain.
The specialist predicted the worst and said baby Kensley would never be able to walk, talk or eat.
But she ignored advice to continue her pregnancy.
Despite having hydrocephalus, Kensley, 14 months old, is a happy little baby reaching all milestones.
Kensley is a perfect, happy little girl, she’s sassy and smart and surprises her mum every day with new things she can do. Her latest hobby is making animal noises.
But she has faced some hurdles along the way.
In an exclusive interview, Katie says: “I was distraught and bawling my eyes out.
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"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.”
Katie’s aunt Michelle quickly got to work researching specialists in the area.
Three days later, Katie had an MRI scan with a new doctor who reassured Katie that everything would be okay, despite three others predicting the worst.
“Dr Paul knew where I was coming from," she says.
"He has a child with special needs and knew I couldn’t just give up on my daughter.
“From then on, I had to go to the hospital every other week to make sure that me and baby were okay.”
What is hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid in the brain – which puts pressure on the organ and can damage it.
If left untreated, the condition can be fatal.
Many babies born with hydrocephalus (congenital hydrocephalus) have permanent brain damage.
This can cause several long-term complications, such as:
- learning disabilities
- speech problems
- memory problems
- short attention span
- problems with organisational skills
- vision problems
- problems with physical coordination
- epilepsy
At 30 weeks, Katie says she was given the same advice to terminate the pregnancy by a second hospital.
She adds: “It was overwhelming. I was scanned again in a room full of unfamiliar faces – it was awful."
On Saturday 22 May last year, Katie was relaxing by the pool and started to bleed.
She was rushed to hospital, feeling "beside herself".
Katie had emergency C-section at 5.30pm the same day.
She says: “My birth went as well as it could have done, and my doctor even made me laugh as he cut me open.”
Baby Kensley was born on May 23, 2021, at 6.59am, and weighed 6lbs and 7oz.
Katie was only able to hold her newborn for five minutes until she was taken to, he children's hospital.
"I was overjoyed seeing my baby for the first time, but it was bittersweet knowing she would have to be taken away," says 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 shunt is 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 says.
Kensley was allowed to go home after seven days, but at two weeks old she had her first surgery, to drain some of the liquid.
Later Kensley was struck with rhinovirus, and she 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.
“It felt like the end of the world to me," Katie says.
"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 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.
“She hasn’t ever had a seizure, she eats by mouth and can see," she says.
“She absolutely loves food and eats like a horse.”
Now at 14 months old, baby Kensley appears to be a healthy and happy baby.
Only time will tell if she develops further symptoms.
Some children with hydrocephalus can suffer with their mobility and can have behavioural problems.
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“She is so full of character and is my little angel I wouldn’t change her for the world," she said.
Katie is now 12 weeks pregnant with a second baby, with her boyfriend Ty, 26, a police officer.
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