SYDNEY — USA
Born December 5, 2022

Late-onset

Mother's GBS Status: Tested Negative
Gestational Age: 39 weeks
Age harmed: 10 days old
After a normal pregnancy and easy delivery, our world was turned upside down when our 10-day old our daughter, Sydney, contracted late-onset GBS. After a day of what appeared to be constipation, our otherwise heathy daughter became lethargic, refused to feed and was making constant moaning noises. She didn’t have a fever but something wasn’t right. We’re fortunate enough to live next to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia so we took her to the ER around midnight, where she had a fever. The hospital began a barrage of tests while my newborn began having seizures in my arms. Sydney was rushed to the NICU where she was later diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and sepsis. An MRI later confirmed the infection moved to the ventricles of her brain, causing significant brain injury.

After 69 days of IV antibiotics, multiple MRIs, blood draws and repeat lumbar punctures Sydney finally came back home for the duration of her treatment. Today, at almost a year old, Sydney is absolutely thriving. We’re so lucky for this tiny miracle and hope others find comfort and light in this story as I did during our darker days with others who shared through this organization. 

-Jessica
To learn more about Perinatal & GBS Misconceptions, click HERE.

To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of Preterm Labor, click HERE.

To learn more about the Signs & Symptoms of GBS Infection, click HERE.

To learn more about Why Membranes Should NOT Be Stripped, click HERE.

To learn more about How to Help Protect Your Baby from Group B Strep (GBS), click HERE.