Mackenzie Violet Bishop 
At my 20 week ultrasound, doctors found a rare benign placenta tumor called a chorioanginoma. At the time it was only about 2cm. Small tumors, more often than not, are harmless, but tumors larger than 4cm can be dangerous for baby. I was referred to a maternal fetal medicine specialist for a follow up ultrasound at around 24 weeks. However, at 23 weeks I started feeling like something was not right. My belly was super tight and full. I was extremely uncomfortable, but being my first pregnancy that I made it this far, I wasn't sure what was normal or what was not. I decided to trust my gut that something wasn't right and went to get things checked out. Little did we know that our lives would change forever after that. 
 
After being admitted into the hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, doctors found that the tumor had grown from 2cm to 7cm in just 3 weeks. The tumor was extremely vascular, causing a large increase in blood flow to the placenta and an over production of amniotic fluid. At 23 weeks, the amniotic fluid index should only be about 15, but mine was measuring 56. All of that extra fluid was making Mackenzie's heart work harder than it should and she was starting to show signs of a condition called fetal hydrops. The doctor in Grand Rapids immediately referred us to a nationally renown specialist at Chicago's Northwestern Hospital who could try and treat the chorioanginoma.
 
We knew we were in good hands immediately upon arriving at Northwestern. That night the doctors injected the tumor with a medication to try to stop the extra blood flow from the tumor to the placenta and took off 2 liters of amniotic fluid. The next week was full of more procedures, another injection into the tumor, and a blood transfusion for our girl. She was so amazing and so strong through everything. After multiple ultrasounds, an MRI, and many days in the hospital, we kept receiving more and more bad news. We were told that Mackenzie was also missing a little valve called the ductus venosus, which is a valve that closes once a baby is born, but in utero it is used to slow blood flow from the umbilical cord to the heart. With out this valve, blood flow can go directly into the heart and overload it, leading to excessive fluid and fetal hydrops - symptoms that Mackenzie already had. We were hoping that since the tumor was successfully treated, she would start to improve. However, as time went on, it became clear that it wasn't the tumor that was causing these issues, but rather the missing valve and we were advised that there was nothing doctors could do about it. Our little girl always fought hard, but she grew tired. Almost as if she knew the news we were given, I went into preterm labor Thursday evening. 
 
Mackenzie Violet Bishop came into the world on January 16 at 2:40 am - a night shifter just like her Mom. She was 2 lbs 6 oz, and had Dad's nose and Mom's lips and blondish hair. She was a true fighter to hold on long enough to meet her parents, for which we are extremely grateful. We were able to spend a couple hours as a family taking photos and having her baptized before we had to say goodbye. 
 
We did everything we could do to give our baby girl a fighting chance. I would go through every procedure, poke, and endure all of the pain over and over again if I knew it would help her in any way. Our hearts are broken, but we are so appreciative of the time we had with her.
 
Mackenzie Violet Bishop, our forever angel.
 
                                                  - Mackenzie's Mom and Dad (Jenna and Brandon)  
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