Our mission is to celebrate and inspire families with children of medical needs and those who have lost children to medical complications so that they may all feel a sense of community, empowerment, and strength to continue their fight. The beginning of this journey dates back to December of 2019 - pre pandemic. Counting down to midnight on December 31st, 2019: “3—2—1 We are pregnant!” Our parents
were overjoyed with the news that their first grandchild would be expected come August 2020. At a routine ultrasound at 26 weeks gestation, bilateral pleural effusions were noted in Baby A’s lungs – our sweet Landon Adam Schultz. Pleural effusion, a condition in which fluid builds up in the pleural space of the chest wall and limits the mature growth of healthy lung tissue. Fetal pleural effusions occur in approximately 1 in 15,000 pregnancies. After seeking multiple opinions, we settled at Tampa General Hospital and USF’s Fetal Medicine team in Tampa, FL for medical management. Treatment included a thoracocentesis to initially drain the fluid and eventually fetal surgeries to shunt the excessive fluid from his lungs into the amniotic sac. A thoughtful decision was made to move forward with these procedures knowing that it would place both boys at risk for premature delivery, infection, and/or death. Landon’s bilateral pleural effusions did eventually develop into a more serious condition, known as fetal hydrops - an abnormal accumulation of fluid in 2 or more fetal compartments. Shortly after the third procedure, at 31 weeks an emergency cesarean section was done due to signs of fetal distress. Landon required immediate respiratory support and 3 chest tubes, among other life saving medications and treatments. At just 3 days of life, Landon was not only struggling to manage the excess fluid, but air bubbles started to accumulate throughout his vascular system. Landon passed away peacefully in our arms, leaving behind his twin brother Logan. Now, nearly a year and a half later, we are reliving this journey with our second pregnancy. Hailey was also diagnosed with a fetal pleural effusion and has undergone fetal thoracoamniotic shunting x3 in hopes that her condition does not progress to fetal hydrops and that we have a different outcome. We are happy to announce her healthy arrival, but were struck with additional cardiac challenges - a complete, balanced AV canal defect.
