This Girl Amazes Me! by Olivia Brambila's Grandmother

This story is about my granddaughter, Olivia, who turned 13 in December of last year. Olivia was born to my 15-year-old teen daughter in 2011. I didn’t learn about the pregnancy until the 6 month (third trimester). I immediately made an appointment with the doctor, and thereafter, an ultrasound was ordered. I will never forget the day!

The ultrasound technician stood quietly, I just felt that something was not right. We later learned there was a complication and that the baby had fluid around the lungs and heart. We were referred to specialist. We were told by one doctor that terminating the pregnancy should be considered. After we spoke, my daughter said that was not an option for her.

We received support from family, our church, and close friends. Things went pretty quickly for this pregnancy. As a mother of a pregnant teenager who had a high-risk pregnancy, I had to make sure my daughter understood what was happening. We were told the baby had Turner syndrome (TS), which we had never heard of. In the short 3 months of high-risk prenatal care, there were weekly visits to monitor the baby, echocardiograms, and discussions about what to expect. It was a lot to take in and deal with.

My daughter was sent to the hospital during one of the weekly visits for monitoring due to low amniotic fluid and the baby not tolerating what was going on well. At the hospital, the doctors explained they wanted to prolong the pregnancy a little longer, but we all know, babies come when babies want to come!  

Baby Olivia made her entrance into a delivery room with a team of at least 20 NICU nurses, specialists, and doctors, so it was quite exciting! Mom and Dad both had the opportunity to do skin to skin, but then our 4 lb. baby girl had to go to the NICU. Mom breast fed and pumped milk since that was best for baby. I recall Olivia’s body temperature was not right. She had an aortic bicuspid heart valve, but thankfully, no surgery was needed.

I have always been my daughter’s biggest supporter and Olivia’s advocate despite this being a teenage pregnancy. Olivia has had many specialist appointments, and she had growth hormone shots for a while. She recently had the choice to continue with the shots and she decided not to. When I asked her why, her response was "I have accepted my height".  

This girl amazes me!  She tries out for everything at her school, and although she didn’t make the basketball team, that was okay. She is the sweetest girl I know. She understands about her TS.  My concern for her is entering junior high when most girl’s bodies change, knowing she would not go through puberty like a normal teen. But she understands all this.

As a child, she encountered her fair share of skin rashes and hospital stays for pneumonia. Olivia has had issues with her ears and hearing, she has had the tubes put in and removed. She is growing up and thriving. As a child, was always determined to do something - anything - and don't tell her no or you can't, because she will. Girls with Turner syndrome are unique and different. Her journey continues. When she grows up, she wants to be a pediatrician to help other kids with TS. I'm a proud grandma of a Turner Syndrome Butterfly.