When you travel to somewhere new, and you find someone who calls home the same place you do, you instantly feel like you become best friends. Views, opinions and income are irrelevant when you share the same zip code or cheer for the same sports team. Receiving a diagnosis for your unknown baby is somewhat like this.
At roughly 18 weeks, people get shuffled one of two ways; what to expect when you’re expecting, or what to expect when things didn’t go as expected. When you find yourself in the “latter” of the two, you quickly find yourself at the top of your Google game. I love to use Google for many things, but to predict the future of your unborn baby isn’t one of them. It’s easy to feel lost, confused and completely isolated when your visions of your baby quickly become squashed due to medical terms that are downright terrifying. How on earth can you have a perfectly healthy and happy baby when the list of possible complications exceed any baby registry.
Lucky for us, we live in a world of technology and social media. The feelings of emptiness can quickly be replenished when you realize you’re not alone. Someone just like you, from across the world is going through the exact same thing. Maybe they are leading the path for you , or maybe you’re the trail blazer for them! The magic of a diagnosis is that no matter who you are or where you’re from, you automatically share something and it connects you right from the start. Comparing neurosurgeons is as common as comparing which brand of diapers you prefer. Realizing milestones will become inch-stones and having your built in cheering section is priceless. It almost becomes the best kept secret when you accidentally become initiated into the extra special world. People who are complete strangers drop what they’re doing to welcome you with open arms and say “us too”. Family can understand and friends can listen, but this group lives it. They understand that no answers are sometimes good answers and good answers can be “just for the moment” answers. At times the level of our normalcy is laughable, because for most it would be considered insanity. But, that’s the beauty in finding your tribe. No explanations and no need to defend. If you’re reading this and you’re just starting your journey, I encourage you to leave the sites that will fill you with fear and join the sites that will fill you with fearless encouragement instead.
