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MATTHEW — USA
1973 Early-onset Mother's GBS Status: Not tested Gestational Age: 40 weeks Age Harmed: At birth |
My story is from 1973 when my son Matthew was born. We were living in Ohio where I had an anesthesia practice and I was expecting my second child. The obstetrician felt that my cervix was "ripe" for delivery and stripped my membranes. A day later, I went into labor. When Matthew was born, I knew that something wasn't right..he had a high-pitched meningeal cry. I asked about it several times in the delivery room, but no one paid attention. I delivered at midnight, and later that morning, the staff brought Matthew to me to nurse. He was very irritable, wouldn't nurse, and still had a meningeal type cry. The nurse took him back to the nursery where, a couple of hours later, he had a seizure. They called in a young pediatrician, just out of residency, whom I continue to bless to this day. He immediately diagnosed b-strep meningitis, and Matthew spent 6 weeks in NICU.
For a long time, his life was an hour to hour event. When we took him home, he had hydrocephalus secondary to the meningitis. This resolved over a year, without surgery, but the neurologist said that it would be years before we would know if he had been brain damaged. Thankfully, today he is a healthy 36 yr. old man, extremely bright. We are so fortunate! When I found out about the b-strep, I asked my obstetrician why he had not tested me for the infection. His flip response was that it wasn't cost-effective to test everyone! (Remember, this was 1973). I have never told this story and found your website by accident. Hurrah for all of you and the good work that you do. I share in the sorrow of those of you who have lost a child or had a child permanently damaged because of b-strep. I am appalled that, in this day and age, routine testing for pregnant women is not standard everywhere. I will certainly support your organization.
— Rebecca Holly, DE, USA
For a long time, his life was an hour to hour event. When we took him home, he had hydrocephalus secondary to the meningitis. This resolved over a year, without surgery, but the neurologist said that it would be years before we would know if he had been brain damaged. Thankfully, today he is a healthy 36 yr. old man, extremely bright. We are so fortunate! When I found out about the b-strep, I asked my obstetrician why he had not tested me for the infection. His flip response was that it wasn't cost-effective to test everyone! (Remember, this was 1973). I have never told this story and found your website by accident. Hurrah for all of you and the good work that you do. I share in the sorrow of those of you who have lost a child or had a child permanently damaged because of b-strep. I am appalled that, in this day and age, routine testing for pregnant women is not standard everywhere. I will certainly support your organization.
— Rebecca Holly, DE, USA
