My name is Emily, I’m from Oregon small town called Hood River. I was born and raised here. I am a mom of 3. (2 anti Kell babies) and have dedicated my time now being a SAHM. Love the outdoors and favorite thing is catching the sunset. But over all love spending time with my family. Whether it’s at home, outdoors or traveling.

On my second pregnancy back in 2024. During my pregnancy labs I was detected an Anti Kell antibody. Where later through an amniocentesis results determined there was a 50% chance of being affected with Fetal anemia since my partner was heterozygous K/k.

Since there was no specialized doctors for alloimmunized babies we had to drive 1 hr and 30 minutes away from home. And for our few of our appointments our doctor, Doctor Andrew Chon consulted the outcomes of how baby would be impacted. The new medical information, terminology was very overwhelming causing me to feel sad and stressed. Knowing my baby could get severely sick if he didn’t have the proper care like the weekly appointments or the possible IUTs he was going to get.

My pregnacy continued with no other medical issues other than the anti Kell diagnosis. But I had to go to the hospital for weekly MCA scans. And at around 24 weeks my son Jaseh’s levels were low showing he was needing a IUT. After that IUT he got 4 more and 1 unsuccessful one. I had a posterior placenta so doctor always reminded how difficult the procedure was some times. His usual patients transfusions would take him around 10-12 minutes while mine were up to 1 hour and 45 minutes! His team during those procedures were amazing . There was an anesthesiologist, Dr Togioka that will always be remembered. He was always helping me breathe through my procedures, and finding the proper medication to make IUTs easier for me. There was times in just one IUT I was being poked 5-8 times.

My son Jaseh, was born on March 11 through a planned scheduled C section. No complications. He stayed 1 week 5 days in the NICU. Just received phototherapy for the first 3 days and was sent home. And was followed up every week with a blood lab. At his 1 month his blood labs determined he needed a blood
transfusion. But after that transfusion there was no more transfusions needed. This diagnosis impacted me very bad where I felt so worried all the time. During this pregnancy I was still working at a Medical clinic and the managers made me feel overwhelmed. There was times I was needing to go to the hospital 3 times a
week for the appointments and procedures. And I felt no support. My partner Adal, was the one who stood by me and made sure I was giving myself a break even though he was also taking everything in. All of the family were also supportive, although with all the medical terminology was new. They thought the anemia was because of me and the way I was eating or taking care of myself. Now I look back at that pregnancy and see how different it has been compared to my recent pregnancy. I’d say it it’s overwhelming but once you see your baby you forget about the pain you go through. The best thing to do when you go through an
alloimmunized pregnancy is to advocate your baby.

Spread the information because there is someone out there who is experiencing it for the first time and are feeling just like I was when I found out about the diagnosis. Stressed, depressed, worried. And when you are able to show women they are not alone it heals you. Jaseh is now 15 months. Doctors said due to his diagnosis of being an Anti Kell baby there could be possibility of delay and he is showing the opposite! He started walking at 10 months and has been thriving. He is very serious, always looks mad but once you get to know him he is the silliest boy ever. Now a big brother making him the middle child! His brother Yohan, who was recently born on June 3rd (another Anti Kell baby) who has had the complete different outcome.