Welcome to the world baby Elisabeth
Sam and Mark were naturally upset when a routine 16-week scan last October revealed that their baby had spina bifida.
The couple, from Cheshire, had longed for a baby since they married in 1999. Sam, 35, already has two children - Laura, 15, and David, 12 - from her first marriage, who were adopted by Mark in 2003, and the couple wanted a third to complete the family.
The news that their baby had spina bifida was a great shock, but the support of relatives, friends and ASBAH, helped Sam and Mark prepare for the new - and much wanted - addition to the family.
And on 16 February their baby girl Elisabeth - or Beth as she's usually called - was born.
But the first four weeks of Elisabeth's life were tougher than Sam and Mark had anticipated, as they had to stand back and watch their new baby being taken to theatre five times in the first few weeks.
“It's been a rough time for all of us, but we finally feel that we're getting there,” Sam told Link. “Worry is exhausting and the lack of sleep doesn't help either. But I feel much better in myself now and I finally feel that life is getting back to normal.”
“And Beth is a real tough cookie. After every operation she's been wide-awake within the hour, waiting for her next feed. And already she has pushed herself up on to her knees when I've been trying to change her nappy.”
Sam added: “The whole family has been through really stressful time, but Beth is so gorgeous that she's worth it all
Wednesday 16 February
Elisabeth was born by Caesarian section at 11.50am. I had said that I didn't want to see her back before it was operated on, but I did look. I was expecting it to be like an open bullet hole, but it looked like a lump of jam.
Elisabeth was wrapped in cling film like a chicken and was taken to the children's hospital that afternoon. Mark followed the ambulance by car.
My ASBAH adviser Elizabeth Miers came to see me and was very supportive. It is strange being here without my husband and newborn baby.
Thursday 17 February
Elisabeth's back was operated on. The nurses told me that if I could get out of bed and eat some breakfast I would be able to go to the children's hospital to visit her. I was out of that bed like a bullet! I still felt very ill and had to use a wheelchair, but it was worth it. Beth's operation went well.
Saturday 19 February
I was discharged from hospital. It is so lovely for Mark and I to be together at last with our baby.
Monday 21 February
I finally got the chance to cuddle Beth and breast-fed her for the first time.
Tuesday 22 February
Beth is very unsettled. At her MRI scan her kidney and bladder were very enlarged. She was given an intermittent catheter, which she'll need indefinitely, or even permanently.
Wednesday 23 February
As a doctor was showing me how to do the catheter, Beth moved her toes for the first time. I thought I was imagining it, but then she moved her feet. I was in a state of shock and delight.
Thursday 24 February
During a ward round Beth lifted her legs in the air. Everyone is thrilled.
Friday 25 February
Everyone is happy with Beth's progress and she is discharged from hospital.
Monday 28 February
Back at the children's hospital to have Beth's stitches removed. When the final stitch is taken out, CS fluid spurts out everywhere. I am devastated. I didn't know what it meant. Her back was stitched again with dissolvable sutures.
Tuesday 29 February
Beth's wound leaked again in the night. A CT scan shows that she does have hydrocephalus. In a strange way I am relieved because I won't keep looking out for the symptoms.
I spoke to Elizabeth Miers at 10.30am, and by noon she was with me on the ward. She is a great comfort. Beth's shunt was fitted and her back re-stitched. She was back on the ward by 3pm.
Friday 4 March
Everything is looking rosy. Beth is discharged from hospital again.
Saturday 5 March
As I changed a nappy, I noticed a wet patch on Beth's back. Back to hospital again. The shunt has failed so Beth went into theatre to have the shunt replaced and her back re-stitched. My feelings were very mixed, although I had been told that shunts fail sometimes, I was shocked that it failed after just four days. I felt completely out of my depth
Sunday 6 March
Beth was very unsettled all night. I noticed another wet patch on her back. It was an emergency dash to theatre to open up her back to find out where the leakage was coming from. The surgeon found a hole near the base of her spine and needed to repeat part of the original closure
Monday 7 March
CT scan shows that everything is OK but Beth must stay in hospital to rest and recover.
Wednesday 8 March
Everything is going well and Beth is gaining weight.
Monday 14 March
Beth is discharged and we can finally go home. I hope it will be for good this time. There are more than 100 new baby cards waiting for us and I am looking forward to having visitors. I hope we can put the past few weeks behind us and get on with life with our new baby.
Monday 21 March
Beth went to theatre to have stitches removed. After the last time I was a nervous wreck, but all seemed to go well.
Tuesday 22 March
WE ARE HOME AT LAST!!!!!