| Mollie Christina Ratzel February 25, 2004 March 29, 2004 Safe in the arms of Jesus |
We learned 30 weeks into my pregnancy that Mollie had a rare malformation called Vein of Galen Malformation (VGM), which
was causing an unusual amount of blood flow to her brain and was causing her heart to beat faster than normal. I was admitted
to the University of Marburg Frauenklinik (Women's Clinic) for daily monitoring and given heart medication to control her
heart rate. It was decided to do a cesarean section at 36 weeks and to perform an embolization on Mollie to treat the VGM. The
Neurology Professor, the Neonatal Professor, and the Obstetric Professor did not think she would survive more than 24 hours
without this treatment.
On February 25, 2004 Mollie began to go into heart failure and was born by emergency c-section at 33 weeks and 3 days. She
weighed 1490 grams, about 3 lbs 4 oz and was 43.5 cm, about 17 inches. By the grace of God, she was amazingly stable. She did
not need any help with her heart rate or breathing! The Professors decided after her birth that it would be best to wait on the
embolization until she gains some weight and becomes stronger. We learned shortly before her birth that she has a rare
Chromosomal disorder. She has a deletion on long arm of Chromosome 13. She has a few physical characteristics of this
chromosome disorder such as a malformed toe, three ribs that are fused together at the sternum, a slight scoliosis of the spine,
and a smaller than normal head. We aren't sure what this will mean for her mental development, only time will tell. We know
the Lord has a plan for her that He designed her perfectly.
Below are the e-mail updates we sent to our friends and family.
March 14, 2004: Mollie is 2 1/2 weeks old and weighs 1500 grams, about 3 lbs 5 oz. She is still in the NICU at the University of
Marburg and continues to be stable. We thank the Lord everyday for this little miracle baby. She is our beautiful little angel
and we can't wait to bring her home.
March 18, 2004: We spoke with the Professor and doctors yesterday about Mollie's condition. She is not doing very well. Her
heart is enlarged as well as her liver. The weight that she gained, which we thought was a good thing, has turned out to be fluid
retention. The embolization cannot be done because she is too small. They feel that there has been too much damage to her
lungs and heart to help even if they did the embolization. We are not really sure what to say. At this time we are praying for
God's will and waiting. We know the Lord is in control and we are thankful that we can lean on Him.
On Sunday, March 28 we went for our daily visit to Mollie. The doctors spoke to us about her condition, which was worsening
daily. The nurses were concerned that she was suffering because of the Oxygen tube in her nose. They were also concerned
that the end would come quickly and that we would not be able to make it to be with her. We lived 75 miles from the hospital.
We decided to remove the large tube and put a smaller one in its place as well as stop the therapy. We spent that night in a
private room at the ICU with Mollie. I was so thankful to finally have my baby to myself. I was able to change, feed and care
for her, as a mother would want to do. I held her most of the night and all the next day. We even took a nap together, it was
wonderful!
Mollie passed away on March 29, 2004 in my arms. I am so thankful to have been there to hand her over to Our Father in
Heaven. I know that she was peaceful and did not suffer at all. We were blessed to have her and know her for 33 days. She
lived much longer than the doctors could even imagine. We look forward to the day we will be reunited with her.
was causing an unusual amount of blood flow to her brain and was causing her heart to beat faster than normal. I was admitted
to the University of Marburg Frauenklinik (Women's Clinic) for daily monitoring and given heart medication to control her
heart rate. It was decided to do a cesarean section at 36 weeks and to perform an embolization on Mollie to treat the VGM. The
Neurology Professor, the Neonatal Professor, and the Obstetric Professor did not think she would survive more than 24 hours
without this treatment.
On February 25, 2004 Mollie began to go into heart failure and was born by emergency c-section at 33 weeks and 3 days. She
weighed 1490 grams, about 3 lbs 4 oz and was 43.5 cm, about 17 inches. By the grace of God, she was amazingly stable. She did
not need any help with her heart rate or breathing! The Professors decided after her birth that it would be best to wait on the
embolization until she gains some weight and becomes stronger. We learned shortly before her birth that she has a rare
Chromosomal disorder. She has a deletion on long arm of Chromosome 13. She has a few physical characteristics of this
chromosome disorder such as a malformed toe, three ribs that are fused together at the sternum, a slight scoliosis of the spine,
and a smaller than normal head. We aren't sure what this will mean for her mental development, only time will tell. We know
the Lord has a plan for her that He designed her perfectly.
Below are the e-mail updates we sent to our friends and family.
March 14, 2004: Mollie is 2 1/2 weeks old and weighs 1500 grams, about 3 lbs 5 oz. She is still in the NICU at the University of
Marburg and continues to be stable. We thank the Lord everyday for this little miracle baby. She is our beautiful little angel
and we can't wait to bring her home.
March 18, 2004: We spoke with the Professor and doctors yesterday about Mollie's condition. She is not doing very well. Her
heart is enlarged as well as her liver. The weight that she gained, which we thought was a good thing, has turned out to be fluid
retention. The embolization cannot be done because she is too small. They feel that there has been too much damage to her
lungs and heart to help even if they did the embolization. We are not really sure what to say. At this time we are praying for
God's will and waiting. We know the Lord is in control and we are thankful that we can lean on Him.
On Sunday, March 28 we went for our daily visit to Mollie. The doctors spoke to us about her condition, which was worsening
daily. The nurses were concerned that she was suffering because of the Oxygen tube in her nose. They were also concerned
that the end would come quickly and that we would not be able to make it to be with her. We lived 75 miles from the hospital.
We decided to remove the large tube and put a smaller one in its place as well as stop the therapy. We spent that night in a
private room at the ICU with Mollie. I was so thankful to finally have my baby to myself. I was able to change, feed and care
for her, as a mother would want to do. I held her most of the night and all the next day. We even took a nap together, it was
wonderful!
Mollie passed away on March 29, 2004 in my arms. I am so thankful to have been there to hand her over to Our Father in
Heaven. I know that she was peaceful and did not suffer at all. We were blessed to have her and know her for 33 days. She
lived much longer than the doctors could even imagine. We look forward to the day we will be reunited with her.
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