The beginning...

Jackson's journey began the morning before a Kenny Chesney concert. I woke up and took one (of many) pregnancy tests. To my surprise, I was pregnant! We were so excited! Of course, this meant I couldn't partake in the drunken debauchery that has occurred at many of the Kenny concerts of the past. That was ok. Ted and I were adding to our little family. Our family of 3 was now going to be a family of 4! And we couldn't be more thrilled. 

Besides the mandatory evacuation to the interior of Paul Brown Stadium, due to the thunderstorm that decided to plant itself over the concert. The concert was fun and worth staying sober for :) 

Fast forward a few months later and we found out we were having a boy! I asked the ultrasound tech to double-check. I couldn't believe we were going to have a baby boy! Ted was so shocked, he was silent. We called everyone and asked if they'd go to football games down the road for our new little boy, if they'd umpire a game or two of his, and if they'd help coach this little boy in little league. Of course, everyone happily agreed. 

The ultrasound tech told us the baby boy wasn't very cooperative and couldn't give them all the images they wanted and needed. So we'd have to come back several weeks later to try again. We went back at the beginning of January. And he still wouldn't cooperate! We were assured that there was nothing indicating a problem, they just couldn't see if there was a problem. Another ultrasound was ordered at Good Samaritan Hospital in the Seton Center. 

We arrived and was prepared for him to show everyone all the stuff they needed. Yet again, he wouldn't cooperate. One more ultrasound was ordered. So January 29 we dropped Lucy off at the sitter and headed to Good Sam for our last ultrasound that would definitely show Jackson was just fine.

The ultrasound tech was very nice and worked very hard to get all the images she needed. She informed us that her images just weren't very good. She was going to see if the doctor could get better ones. A light bulb went off in my head - they had told us if there was a problem, the doctor would come in. Think positive Amanda! He's fine. 

The doctor came in and chit-chatted her way through the ultrasound. She asked all about Lucy, me, and Ted. Finally, I asked if there was a problem. And she said the words every expectant mother dreads to hear - "yes". As I'm struggling to breathe (from crying so hard), she explained that Jackson had transposition of the great arteries. This occurs when the arteries go to the wrong places. It is fixable, but it would require open heart surgery within a week of him being born. We went from there to see my OB (that I cried to), to see the cardiologist at children's (to which I continued crying to), and finally home to see Lucy (and yes, I continued the crying fest). They all told us the same thing-"he'll be fine, he'll go on to live a normal life, he can still play sports and have a normal childhood, it'll be rough in the beginning". Hands-down. worst. day. of. our. lives.

Since the diagnosis, we feel we are experts on transposition. We have found that only 30% of children born with this find out in utero. Most babies are born with this and only find out after birth because they turn blue. We are so thankful that is not the case with us. We also found that 60-70% of babies born with transposition are boys. Children's only deals with about 10-15 transposition cases a year! Not rare but not very common either. 

We were also informed that Children's doesn't deliver babies there. They only do c-sections and emergency ones. The last delivery they had there was about 2 months ago. They decided my delivery should be there just to ensure that there is no wasted time for him between birth and the potential balloon that might be needed. 

On Thursday, we met with the delivery team at Children's. It was quite intimidating. Ted and I walked into a board room with 11 other people seated around the table. There were cameras recording our meeting and microphones hanging from the ceiling. My high-risk OB doctor was there, a cardiologist interventionist, imaging, other doctors, nurses, etc. They were all there to tell us their role in the delivery and stabilization of Jackson. They also informed us that should I go into labor on my own before Tuesday, there is a phone tree that will be activated for me. I assured everyone that I am not important enough for a phone tree. They assured me that I am :) 

Here I sit, several ultrasounds, non-stress tests, fluid checks, OB doctors visits, and cardiologist appointments later. He's scheduled to arrive Tuesday morning (March 5). He will arrive via c-section at Children's Hospital. He'll be here in less than two short days. We're ready (and not ready), scared, nervous, anxious, etc. All the emotions you can feel rolled up into one. 

We've got our plan and the doctors have their plan ready. He'll be born, assessed, possibly have a balloon placed to keep blood flowing, and get ready for surgery. Within a week of life, he will have his open heart surgery where they will cut the arteries, at the heart, and reattach them. Fortunately, my recovery will be at Children's too. I'll be a floor or two away from him. Much better than a few miles down the road. 

We can't thank everyone enough for all their thoughts, prayers, well wishes, food, etc. We have such a great, strong support system!! We are very grateful and thankful for that! We know that our hardest days are ahead of us. With a support system like we have, we are sure to get through this with flying colors. We'll look back at this some day and smile, knowing that Jackson's Journey made us all better because of what we went through.