Why we are sharing our story...

As the very blessed mother of a healthy 3 year old little girl, Aubrianna, I was overcome with excitement the day she was born.  My life changed forever that day in July of 2008.  Almost every mother I knew had given me their account of what motherhood was like.  I listened to each and every one of them and smiled thinking I understood exactly what they were talking about.  Boy was I wrong.  I didn't have a clue what motherhood would bring me.  In an instant, my life became more than it had ever been and I couldn't have been more thankful.  A healthy baby girl who exceeded all of my expectations and brought me joy every second of the day.  Soon after her birth, I reluctantly returned to my job as a business professional and was miserable.  I wanted to be home with her so bad, but it just wouldn't work out financially.  I was very fortunate to work for a wonderful boss who helped me get a part time schedule for several months.  I worked hard, but my heart was at home with my little girl.  She grew quickly exceeding all of her developmental milestones and was a tiny, but healthy little thing.  She caught a couple of common viruses as a toddler, but was otherwise healthy as could be.  Her only visits to her PCP were for her infant check-ups and vaccinations.  I felt so bad for her when I took her in for those vaccinations and would worry about them for days before she had to go in.  Then I would worry about the low grade fever she had after them - a common response and sign of a good immune system.  She has always developed new skills quickly and always been a social butterfly.  I would soon learn that worrying about those simple things with Aubrianna, which seemed so big, were nothing compared to what we were about to experience with Chase.  When Aubrianna was 13 months old we learned we were expecting another baby.  We were of course thrilled and so thankful to God.  Everything was perfect until about 19 weeks along in the pregnancy.  On January 25th, 2010 our lives changed as preterm labor began.  For the next 15 weeks I spent most of my time in the bed at home or in the hospital praying that God would just give our little baby one more day in the womb.  On May 23, 2010 little Chase Maddox was born at 36 weeks gestation.  A healthy and beautiful 5 lb and 1 oz blessing from God himself.  After 3 days in the newborn nursery, we brought him home.  We were so happy to have that 4 month journey behind us and so thankful to be bringing our baby home.  I couldn't wait to get home and be done with the hospital stays.  Unfortunately, I now know all of those hospital stays and scary days were just God's way of preparing us to handle what was to come.  Chase is now 15 months old and such a little trooper.  He has been diagnosed with Pseudohypoaldosteronism Type 1 Dominant (PHA1).  Such a long and intimidating phrase...a phrase that keeps me awake every night and fills some of the minutes in my busy days.  A phrase that no one seems to know much about which is why we are sharing our journey.  I hope to help others by sharing our little Chase's story.