Open Letter to Our Son’s Fetal Surgery Team

Posted: 6 years ago

Open Letter to Our Son’s Fetal Surgery Team

To My Son’s Fetal Surgery Team,

I was terrified the day you called me with the care plan for our baby. After days of testing, you decided to drain the excess fluid in his abdomen while he was still inside me.

I was pregnant with the baby other doctors recommended terminating. Many medical professionals believed I was carrying a problem so big, that it was better to eliminate it altogether. And try again.

But you. You saw a baby with a problem that could be helped.

I know our fetal surgery was minor compared to others. You close holes in baby’s backs, you place shunts, you remove tumors, you answer prayers and make miracles happen. You do all these things before these tiny humans take their very first breath.

I know the road you took to get where you are was long and winding. You are at the cutting edge of an emerging field and I can only imagine the number of hours it took to get here; hours of studying and missed sleep, hours of researching and rounding and the hours you continue to spend away from your own families all so you can preserve families like mine.

I want to say thank you for all of it. Thank you for the sacrifice you make to give babies a better chance at this one wild and worthy existence.

You work in the veil between heaven and earth, reminding us life is so fragile and so sacred. Because of you, a life was saved, a seat at our table is full, and our hearts are forever grateful.

With Thanks,

The Benfields

Read about our high-risk pregnancy journey here.

Jillian Benfield

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