Group B Strep International
  • Home
  • About GBS
    • What Is Group B Strep? >
      • Prenatal-onset GBS Disease
      • Early-onset GBS Disease
      • Late-onset GBS Disease
      • GBS in Nonpregnant Adults
      • Maternal GBS Infections
    • How to Help Protect Your Baby >
      • How Do You Get GBS?
      • GBS Testing
      • Testing Negative
      • Subsequent Pregnancy
      • Risk Factors
    • Signs of GBS Infection
    • GBS Vaccine Efforts
  • Resources
    • GBS Awareness Materials
    • Online Learning Events >
      • GBS Community Days 2023
      • ICGBS 2022
      • ICGBS 2021
      • ICGBS 2020
      • ICGBS 2019
      • Prenatal Infection Prevention Symposium
      • POGBSD Symposium
    • Prenatal Infection Prevention Resources
    • GBS Medical Articles and Abstracts
    • GBS Parent Connection & Grief Support
  • Parent Stories
    • GBS Babies
    • Story Submission
    • Subsequent Pregnancies
    • Possible GBS Infections
    • Perinatal Infection Stories
  • WAYS TO HELP
    • Make a Donation
    • Fundraising
    • The WAVES Study
    • Campaigns & Projects
    • Awareness Calendar >
      • Group B Strep Awareness
      • Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
      • Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
    • Suggested Topics for Researchers
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Partners & Perinatal Health Affiliates
    • Fast Facts
    • Contact Us

Parent Story of Finley Genevieve

10/15/2018

 
Picture
FINLEY GENEVIEVE — USA
Lived September 28, 2017 to September 29, 2017
Early-onset
Mother's GBS Status: 
Tested negative
Gestational Age: 39 weeks
Age harmed: 18 hours old
I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks December 2015, was then told by fertility specialists I didn’t have great ovaries to have my own baby. January 26, 2017 we found out I was pregnant so for the 9 months we knew this precious girl was our miracle baby. I had a fantastic pregnancy.

At week 36 I was tested for GBS and the result was negative, I was relieved and my doctor never mentioned that I could contract GBS up until I gave birth. If I would’ve known that I would’ve pushed further for another test or to have Finley tested.

At 8:16pm on September 28, 2017 our gorgeous girl was born and she was perfect.  The hour that I was able to hold her was the best hour of my life. My husband fed her, changed her and was in awe of her. She did show signs of grunting fairly quickly but no one thought much of it.

At around 4am the nurses took Finley to the nursery and at 7am a respiratory therapist came in calmly stating that perhaps Finley had a small respiratory infection. They told us not to worry, they’re the professionals so we didn’t worry. At around 11am the NICU team has us come see Finley as her vitals were dropping and they wanted to transfer her to the children’s hospital.

When Finley heard our voices her vitals spiked. It brought tears to my eyes. She seemed better. At around 1pm we got a call to come quickly as Finley was fading. My husband and I were in shock, felt like we were living in a nightmare in slow motion. We rushed to her side, had her baptized and mommy held her sweet girl while she died in my arms.

It all happened so fast all I keep crying out is “what is happening to our daughter??” No one could tell us. A neonatologist had a thought that it might be GBS and I said “no way,” I was negative. That’s where I found out GBS can change day to day. My husband and I found out 24 hours later that Finley indeed died from GBS since her blood work didn’t come back until then. We just had our first Christmas without our baby girl and the hole in our hearts is so large, death is endless pain. We miss you our sweet little girl. You deserved better.

-Kelli Smith
Marti Perhach
10/21/2018 01:35:24 pm

Thank you so much, Kelli, for sharing your and Finley's story.

Would be glad to hear of anyone's experiences with an accurate rapid test that has been implemented and is closing the gap for moms who test negative.

Also, want to share that at the top of this page https://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/recognize-the-symptoms-of-infection.html there are audio clips of two babies, Aayan and Reagan, making the grunting/moaning sound associated with GBS meningitis--so important for providers and parents to be able to recognize!


Comments are closed.
    Back to Main Page
    CME Credit

    Categories

    All
    - Alternative Treatments And Research
    - Conventional Prevention Strategies
    - Determining Cause/ Assessing The Burden
    - GBS Disease Prevention For All Babies
    - Introduction To POGBSD
    - Parent Stories
    - Pathways Of Infection
    - Potential Prevention Strategies
    - Respect & Autonomy
    - Suggested Research
    - Supporting Loss Families

    RSS Feed

Join the Campaign against GBS Disease in babies!

- Make a donation
- Tell your story!
- Distribute GBS awareness brochures
- Help translate GBS information
- Send us links to articles about GBS
Make a Donation
Shop to Support

​CONNECT TO GBSI


© COPYRIGHT 2017 -
​GBSI ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
 
Terms and Conditions 
Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • About GBS
    • What Is Group B Strep? >
      • Prenatal-onset GBS Disease
      • Early-onset GBS Disease
      • Late-onset GBS Disease
      • GBS in Nonpregnant Adults
      • Maternal GBS Infections
    • How to Help Protect Your Baby >
      • How Do You Get GBS?
      • GBS Testing
      • Testing Negative
      • Subsequent Pregnancy
      • Risk Factors
    • Signs of GBS Infection
    • GBS Vaccine Efforts
  • Resources
    • GBS Awareness Materials
    • Online Learning Events >
      • GBS Community Days 2023
      • ICGBS 2022
      • ICGBS 2021
      • ICGBS 2020
      • ICGBS 2019
      • Prenatal Infection Prevention Symposium
      • POGBSD Symposium
    • Prenatal Infection Prevention Resources
    • GBS Medical Articles and Abstracts
    • GBS Parent Connection & Grief Support
  • Parent Stories
    • GBS Babies
    • Story Submission
    • Subsequent Pregnancies
    • Possible GBS Infections
    • Perinatal Infection Stories
  • WAYS TO HELP
    • Make a Donation
    • Fundraising
    • The WAVES Study
    • Campaigns & Projects
    • Awareness Calendar >
      • Group B Strep Awareness
      • Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
      • Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
    • Suggested Topics for Researchers
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Partners & Perinatal Health Affiliates
    • Fast Facts
    • Contact Us