From Fear to Hope: Jasmine’s Journey

Like so many newly expectant parents, Jasmine and her husband were filled with equal parts surprise and joy when they learned Jasmine was pregnant. “She just laid out a whole bunch of pregnancy tests and all of them were positive,” her husband, Zechariah, recalls. “I was just overwhelmed with happiness.”

But that feeling of optimism was short-lived.

“My pregnancy journey started off full of love and excitement, but it turned into anxiety and fear when we found out about Leonardo’s diagnosis,” she said.

Their baby, Leonardo, had been diagnosed with gastroschisis, a rare and serious condition where a baby’s intestines extend outside the body through a hole near the belly button.

“Immediately, I wanted answers,” said Zechariah. “Is our pregnancy in jeopardy? Is my wife in jeopardy? I was very confused, overwhelmed and even a little bit angry.”

The couple was overwhelmed and knew they needed answers fast. That’s when they turned to Valley Children’s.

“From the baby’s point of view, it’s an extremely high-risk pregnancy,” said Dr. James Hole, medical director of Valley Children’s Maternal Fetal Center. “The mom's risk comes from early labor, early ruptured membranes, which in this case happened to Jasmine.”
 

Valley Children’s offered a full spectrum of specialized services: consultations with neonatologists, access to pediatric cardiology and most critically, expert pediatric surgical care.

“Everybody was on the same page. Everybody was very fluid. So, it helped keep our anxiety at ease,” Jasmine recalled.

“There were so many key players and physicians that were with us every step of the way,” said Zechariah. “Each one of them always had positivity for us.”

By the time Jasmine was ready to give birth, the couple felt at peace, and then relief as Leonardo went into the NICU. 

“They took care of Leonardo like he was their own,” Jasmine laughed. “He had his first Halloween here and they dressed him up into a little In-N-Out costume.”

"Leonardo is 4 months old. He is a spicy little boy,” Jasmine proudly shared. “But he’s healthy. He’s great. He’s growing. He’s thriving.”

“We couldn’t have asked for a more healthy, beautiful baby,” said Zechariah. And we just want to see him grow to be his best self.”