bad blood

Yes, mine. 

My blood contains two things that normal blood doesn't; lupus anticoagulant (which does the opposite of what it sounds like it should and does not mean I have lupus), and a MTHFR (methylene-tetra-hydro-folate-reductase-blah-blah-blah) mutated gene. These things are what God gave me in order to ensure that adoption was how we grew our family. 

You see, many years ago... about 7, I believe... after my second miscarriage, my doctor decided to take about a gallon of my blood and test it for everything under the sun. (See findings above) Although, at the time only the first was noted and told to us. Not good, but with heparin injections twice daily to my abdomen, I should be able to carry a baby. After months of feeling like a human pin cushion (infertility treatments + anticoagulation therapy = one holey lady), and several more miscarriages, we got it; God did not intend for us to have a biological child. We made our peace and embraced our adoption adventure. 

Last December, through an unexpected medical situation, we found out that all along I also had the second blood disorder (MTHFR). This one would have been treated with a whole slew of extra vitamins to keep my blood from clotting. We were asked if, given this new information, we would want to give biological parenting another go. The answer was an astounding...NO! Not gonna go there... But, we also found out that there could be more implications to my health (where as previously we were told that it would only affect my ability to bear children). So now I diligently take my vitamins on a semi-regular basis and hope my blood stays good and thin.

So, why am I sharing all this now?? Well, a few reasons. One, I'm feeling in a better place to share our experience; two, I hope through our experience I can help others who have the same issues; and third, June is Antiphospholipid Syndrome (to which the lupus anticoagulant belongs) Awareness month. 

So there you go, now you're aware.