Vicky Hrysikos put her life on the line for her baby girl

[okarol]

Vicky Hrysikos put her life on the line for her baby girl

Marianne Betts From: Herald Sun June 08, 2011 12:00AM

BABY Angelina truly is a "little miracle angel".

Mum Vicky Hrysikos put her life on the line to give birth to the gorgeous girl.

She ignored medical advice and became pregnant while awaiting a kidney transplant.

"We gave her the name Angelina because she truly is an angel ... she is our little miracle angel," Ms Hrysikos said.

"Sometimes I can't believe I am holding her after all of those fears that have been running through my head."

Ms Hrysikos, who is on dialysis, ran the risk of dangerous complications to have a second child.

Her gamble paid off when she gave birth to Angelina at Southern Health's Jessie McPherson Private Hospital five days ago.

Just a handful of women with kidney failure give birth in Victoria each year.


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Apart from being born three weeks early, and weighing just 2.4kg, Angelina is perfectly healthy.

"She's just gorgeous. She's tiny, but she's perfect, and she's a hungry little thing," the proud mum said.

Ms Hrysikos's kidney failure was triggered by an attack of lupus, a disease of the immune system, when she was 17. The first sign of trouble came 10 years ago, and two years ago her condition had deteriorated so much she started dialysis.

The Ashburton mother has daughter, Chloe, 5, but desperately wanted to give her a sibling to "complete" her family.

"I had the option of waiting for the transplant, but then I'd be full of immuno-suppressant drugs."

 

Obstetrician Dr John Regan said Ms Hrysikos was more prone to high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and a poorly functioning placenta than healthy women.

There was a small chance she or her baby could have died, but it was more likely the baby would be born undersized and early.

Ms Hrysikos was told of the risks, but her mind was made up.

"I was going to have a baby no matter what ... and it was all worth it."

bettsma@heraldsun.com.au

 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/vicky-hrysikos-put-her-life-on-the-line-for-her-baby-girl/story-fn7x8me2-1226071260665

[MooseMom]

I'm going to be honest...this story makes me cringe.  I know it sounds so maternally saintly to risk your life to have a child, but I can't help feeling it is so selfish and irresponsible.  Where is her husband in all this?  I guess he was willing to risk his wife's life?  And what about their other daughter?  Does she not deserve to have a healthy mother?  Are her parents ever going to tell her that their family would not have been "complete" with her as their only child?

So what happens if the new baby ends up having developmental problems because of an early birth and a low birthweight?  My son was three weeks early and was smaller than normal, and he ended up being autistic.  I hope this woman remembers what she said...that she was going to have another baby "no matter what." 

I'm not sure I've ever had such a negatively visceral reaction to anything I've ever read on IHD.  Then again, my opinion means nothing, and I hope both mother and baby will have a long and happy life together.  She rolled the dice, and I hope she truly got lucky.  Maybe time will tell.

[okarol]

It does seem like a very big risk, for mother and child.