"Ninjas on the Roof"

Have you ever heard the phrase “ninjas on the roof?” It’s the idea that there’s this impending doom that will befall you at any moment unbeknownst to you. We’ve had ninjas on our roof since July 7 when Roselynn was at 32 weeks old. We went in for an ultrasound, routine growth ultrasound to see size, weight, and overall health of baby when the tech pointed out a small

black circle on her stomach, which to us looks like nothing. Because until you get a large white circle and a long white stick showing the head and an arm it doesn’t look like anything anyways. She labeled it at a cyst but could give us nothing more. She told us to go see a fetal specialist as soon as possible. BAM! One ninja on the roof. On July 10, because of COVID-19, Maryelena UNFORTUNATELY had to go in alone to learn that it was a cyst somewhere on the little baby’s body most likely on her uterus or ovary.

We were also told that we would need to have an ultrasound immediately following her birth to ensure it officially wasn’t on her stomach or intestines blocking her from receiving, digesting, or excreting food. BAM! Ninja number two. We tried not to stress about it because there wasn’t anything we could do until she was born. We continued to get her last few ultrasounds done just to ensure nothing made a turn for the worse. I also had my EEG appointment on July 10 where she wasn’t allowed to come in and comfort me. I had stayed up for 24 hours and we were searching for more answers about that random seizure in March so we can chalk that up to 3 ninjas on the roof.

Moving on to zero hour when baby is born. Turns out she needed a C-Section. Dilation wasn’t occurring fast enough and Maryelena’s mother helped push the doctors to make it happen. I was in the room for the C-Section, I saw it all. The cord was wrapped around her neck three times and we are so lucky we have her in this world and our family (more details on baby’s birth in another post). Now, Maryelena goes to her room to rest and I was able to go with Roselynn to her ultrasound. Here it was confirmed that it was a cyst/growth, but they weren’t sure what, if anything was attached to it. We kept going in annoying circles trying to figure out what or where it was in our lengthy stay at the hospital over 5 days. We finally called it and went to our pediatrician who directed us to a surgeon from Primary Children’s. He was able to give us more answers. He said it has doubled in size from 2 cm. to 4 cm., but basically her body is still too small for us to know what or where it is. In one month, we will get an ultrasound to determine whether it was grown or stayed the same. If it has not shrunk at all it will have to be surgically removed at that time. Here’s praying for her. She’s a very happy and chill baby and doesn’t seem to be in any visible pain. It’s almost worse having ninjas on your roof than having to fight an army in front of you.