The story of Bethany
Bethany was expecting her third pregnancy to be routine like her first two, but it turned out to be anything but routine. At 9 weeks her OB/GYN told her she had tested positive for anti-Kell antibodies, which could cross the placenta and attack her baby in the second and third trimester, possibly making the baby anemic in utero. Bethany struggled to find information about this new diagnosis and her doctors and specialists often gave inconsistent information about monitoring and treatment options. At 19 weeks into the pregnancy Bethany and her husband, Josh, watched in horror during an ultrasound as their daughter’s heartbeat slowed down and stopped. Baby Lucy died from HDFN (Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn), severe fetal anemia and fetal hydrops. The maternal fetal medicine specialists told Bethany and Josh that they could not have any more biological children since the disorder often becomes more severe with each subsequent pregnancy. This was another huge loss for their family since they had always wanted five children.
After reaching out to a specialist in Texas who had decades of experience treating maternal alloimmunization, Bethany and Josh decided to try again for another baby. After relocating to Texas for treatment and receiving phenomenal care, Bethany delivered her healthy baby, Nora Juliet, at 38 weeks. Two years later Bethany had a baby boy, Callum Joseph Thomas, who is now a healthy two year old. Nora and Callum have brought so much joy and healing, but they are also constant reminders of how Bethany’s pregnancy with Lucy could have turned out if she had been given the right treatment for her rare disease.Â
After blogging about her experiences and connecting with other women and families in similar situations, Bethany founded The Allo Hope Foundation in 2019.  The Allo Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to prevent any harm, stillbirth or infant death caused by alloimmunization/HDFN. The organization is dedicated to providing patient advocacy, support and education while promoting research and improving healthcare practices for the condition. For more information, visit www.allohopefoundation.org