The rhode home

My name is Christine. I am a 28 year old veterinary technician in Helena Montana. I am a mother of two,

soon to be three, girls. My husband Josh is the Executive Chef of a premier steak house in Montana, the

number one in Helena. We work very hard to provide the best possible life for our little family, both of

us working long numerous hours, above and beyond a normal forty hour work week. This past 12

months has been the worst for our family.

May 3rd, 2017, we lost what would have been our third child. I had to undergo emergency surgery and

lost my right fallopian tube. July 23rd we lost our family dog to cancer. Our girls were and still are

heartbroken. July 31st we found out we were yet again expecting. After being told our chances were

slightly slimmer due to only having one remaining fallopian tube, we were not expecting to conceive so

quickly. I am having numerous pregnancy complications. I was officially put medical leave and per my

doctors orders I was not able to go to work; as my occupation is very physically demanding.

Almost immediately after being put on medical leave, my employer informed me they were not going to

continue to pay their contribution of my health insurance. So in addition to losing my income, we would

have to come up with additional money to pay my entire health insurance premium. I was now paying to

be an employee.

I am now 34 weeks pregnant. March 2nd I took our three year old daughter to her pediatrician as she

was complaining of stomach ache and we had previously noticed some abnormal bruising. I noticed the

look of concern on her doctors face when she entered the room. I looked at my very pale daughter and

back to the doctor and I knew it was something serious. The doctor told me her concern was that my

child could potentially have leukemia. I called her father immediately, who was working even more now

due to my mandatory medical leave, and told him to come right away. We were rushed to our local

hospital and she was immediately admitted.

We ran some blood work and discovered how bad things really were. Her platelets were not existent.

Her white blood cell count was barely traceable. Her hematocrit was also dangerously low. All in all she

had very thin blood and was not making more fast enough to keep her functioning properly. Her

tentative diagnosis remained leukemia.

The world stopped, my heart dropped, and my husband and I were even more scared then before and

began questioning everything. How could this happen? Hadn’t we been through enough? Why us? Then

reality set in. What was next? What did we have to do to save our child? The answer was not simple. It

started with needing and IV catheter to receive fluids and antibiotics and an emergency blood

transfusion. Then to a life flight to Seattle Children's hospital, where she could receive the best care.

Many member of the hospital staff attempted to place an IV catheter including: pediatric nurses, an

anesthesiologist, an Emergency room doctor, and a member of the life flight crew. Our daughter was

poked 22 times before they settled on an IO catheter straight into her femur bone. After the IO proved

successful and my baby was exhausted, we were then transported via life flight from Helena to Seattle.

She received an emergency blood transfusion during her flight. We arrived In Seattle late on March 2nd

.

We were admitted through the ER as we waited for a plan of action. The staff wanted to place an IV

catheter, but I was skeptical given the days earlier events and failures. They assured me they would not

poke her unless they were certain it would work. I consented and they were able to place a catheter first

try. They were also able to draw more blood to run further tests.