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“A little of both, but mostly good. We’re going to run some tests, get you an MRI for confirmation, but what this means, basically, is that we aren’t looking for a needle in a haystack anymore. This information, coupled with what Rhett has provided from his own family, is invaluable.”
She sure was taking a fucking long time to get to the point.
“Soooo, what are we looking for?”
Thank you, Rhett.
My hands clenched into fists on my lap as I braced myself for whatever difficult news was coming. Rhett shifted closer to me, our arms brushing together in an unconscious gesture of mutual support. I found myself grateful for his solid presence beside me, a surprising anchor in the storm of uncertainties swirling around us.
“Go ahead,” I told the doctor, lifting my chin with one hundred percent fake composure. “I’m listening.”
“These records show a family history of Neonatal Hemochromatosis.”
Oh fuck, that sounded bad. Really bad.
My heart sank as Dr. Morris’s words registered. A family history? Of some condition I’d never heard of? A thousand terrifying scenarios flashed through my mind in an instant. Without thinking about it, I grabbed Rhett’s hand and squeezed tightly.
“What is.. what is that?” I couldn’t even say the damn word. Images of sick, frail babies flooded my mind, making me feel lightheaded. I shook my head slightly, forcing myself to focus on the doctor’s explanation.
Dr. Morris spoke gently but directly. “It’s a very rare disorder, an autoimmune condition, actually. Basically, your body thinks that the babies are a threat and is making antibodies that are attacking the liver cells. That’s why we have the buildup in their iron levels.”
“What does that mean, exactly? What are the possible or expected outcomes here?”
Again, thank you, Rhett.
“To be frank, if it’s not caught early enough and left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications for the babies like liver disease, heart problems, and organ failure.”
My free hand moved instinctively to cradle my pregnant belly, as if to shield the twins from this new threat. I blinked back tears, suddenly terrified for my unborn children. “But... there has to be a treatment, right? Some way to manage it?”
The doctor nodded solemnly. “Yes, absolutely. We’re very fortunate to have such amazing resources at our fingertips, through Rhett’s early intervention in getting you to this medical facility. With early diagnosis and proper management from an experienced team, the prognosis is very good.”
“That’s good. Great. Right?” Yeah, some of the panic was subsiding, but I still wasn’t out of the woods yet. Like, there was a good chance I was going to throw up, or burst in to tears. Hey, why not both?
“Yes. It is.”
Rhett rubbed his thumb back and forth on the back of my hand. “What are the next steps?”
“First, we’ve scheduled an MRI and other tests to help confirm the diagnosis, as at this stage, we’re going solely on the family history information.”
The doctor’s reassuring tone helped settle my nerves a bit as she continued explaining the situation. “Once that’s done and assuming it is, in fact, Neonatal Hemochromatosis,the recommended treatment is a course of intravenous immunoglobulin infusions.”
I nodded slowly, trying to process this new information. “Okay... and what exactly does that involve?”
“Immunoglobulin is a blood product made from donated plasma that contains healthy antibodies,” Dr. Morris clarified. “For Neonatal Hemochromatosis, the infusions help suppress the abnormal maternal antibodies that are attacking the babies’ liver cells. It essentially resets and regulates the immune system response.”
That sounded intense but also made sense in a medical kind of way. At least there was an established treatment protocol. I took a deep breath, squeezing Rhett’s hand tighter. “And this treatment...it’s safe for the babies?”
“Absolutely. This kind of therapy has an excellent safety profile and is considered very low-risk, especially when administered at a facility like this with an experienced team.” She gave me an encouraging smile. “The key is starting the infusions as early as possible, which is why getting that family history was so crucial.”
“I see.” My mind was already leaping ahead. “How soon can we start the treatment, then?”
“Now, here’s where it does get a bit tricky. The transfusion is most effective when it comes from close blood relations like parents or siblings. But don’t worry, we have excellent resources here for securing matched donors from outside your family, if needed.”
I felt Rhett tense beside me and knew he was thinking the same thing I was - this was yet another reason to track down my birth family as soon as possible. Not just for the medical history, butnow potentially for a direct biological link that could help treat the babies. And save them.
It was all becoming overwhelming again. So many new worries and concerns piling up on top of an already shitty, stressful situation. I closed my eyes for a moment, fighting back the urge to cry or scream or both. When I opened them again, Rhett was looking at me. “No need to be a creep.”
That made him smile, which made me smile.