Jillian's Story

Our story seems like it started a lifetime ago. After getting married kind of late at 35 years old and having maternal feelings kick into high gear, getting pregnant was the next logical step. It seems I spent my whole life trying not to get pregnant—first college, the first job, then the entry into the corporate world but I was ready to be a mom. We began planning our family and immediately got pregnant. Wow that was easy! But the sad news is within 8 weeks I miscarried.

After 2 more years of trying, I resigned myself to the fact that we needed to go the fertility treatment route. It took eighteen more months but we finally became pregnant. With excitement, we went in for a routine check up only to find out that this baby was not meant to be. The pregnancy was not "viable" because my hormone levels were not adequately multiplying. The doctor injected a drug known as Methatrexate into my system, to self abort to reduce the chances of my needing another D&C. The drug didn’t work and another dose was administered.

I was concerned because I never did feel right after that but attributed it to the emotional roller coaster of losing this baby too. During my next checkup the doctor discovered a tiny but strong heartbeat. No one knew how but this baby survived all of this! The little trooper was holding on to life. But because Methatraxate is a drug given to treat uterine cancer patients, it causes severe birth defects. Although our hearts did not want to give up, we reluctantly scheduled a D&C and our little one left this world.

After another year of fertility treatments with a new fertility doctor, and yet another miscarriage, I once again became pregnant. I will never forget the day I conceived this child. Despite the fact that the fertility clinic was closed for the holidays, they opened their doors for us because it’s a very small window of time that the procedure will work. It was 1999-- the day after Christmas-- that we conceived our child.

There were a few scares along the way. What should have been the most exciting times of our lives was filled with trepidation and fear. Some time passed and I began severely cramping. Everyone was concerned about whether I could hold onto this baby. My fears were soon put to rest when the results of the Amino test came back stating that I had a perfect—yes perfect-- little girl growing inside me!

Despite having contractions at 27 weeks my little girl hung on and 20 hours of labor and one C-Section later, Jillian Nicole Bliss was born. She was worth each tear and every bit of heartache we had previously endured.

Jillian was 3 on September 13th 2003 and is the love of my life. She is beautiful, smart, and makes me laugh out loud. She loves the beach, duckies, "woo-woo’s" (dogs) airplanes, broccoli, and wearing mommy’s high heels. She truly is our MIRACLE BABY.

-Donna Bliss, owner My Miracle Baby.com