A BRAVE JOURNEY TO
MOTHERHOOD
The human body contains about 10 pints of blood.
When she gave birth to her daughter Addison, it took a total of 540 pints of donated
blood to help save Gina Walker’s life.
Today, Addison is a healthy, happy 4 year-old. And Gina is a proud and devoted mother
who is making the most of the life that she shares with the daughter for whom she went
through so much.
"She's my little ray of light," says Gina, beaming at her daughter enjoying
herself on the playground. "She's just my little blessing."
The pregnancy was a difficult one from early on – for both Gina and the baby. In just
the sixth week, an ultrasound test found no heartbeat. Gina’s doctors expected she
would soon miscarry. At her 10-week appointment, Gina’s doctors believed they’d
detected a very serious threat – one that could not be confirmed until the delivery.
Placenta percreta is a rare and potentially fatal condition in which the placenta attaches
itself and grows through the uterus, sometimes extending to nearby organs. In Gina’s
case, it grew into her bladder.
On February 15, 2012, Addison was born, weighing just 4 pounds 14 ounces. She went
immediately to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for assistance in breathing.
She'd also developed cysts on her brain that, happily, resolved without lasting effect.
After 11 days she was allowed to go home.
While Addison went to the NICU, Gina stayed in surgery. For nine hours. The doctors
had prepped the operating room with 30 pints of blood. By way of comparison, heart
surgery typically requires about six pints of blood. An organ transplant uses about 40
pints. A car accident can require 50 or more. Gina received 410 pints of blood that
day. While in a medically induced coma for a week, she would undergo additional
procedures, ultimately receiving that astonishing total of 540 pints of blood.
In a condition as urgent and sensitive as Gina’s, there’s no room for medical error.
Each of those pints of blood had to be tested and found safe for use. All of the blood
Gina received was screened on Abbott’s PRISMnEXT testing system. Abbott's blood
screening systems help to safeguard about 60 percent of the world’s blood supply.
"Think of how many cancer patients every day need blood transfusions,"
says Gina. "There's more birthdays that are had, there’s high-school graduations,
there's proms, there's retirement parties, 50th anniversary parties – all because people
have created this awesome technology; and because of the people who give the blood to
begin with."
Gina and four-year-old Addison enjoy a quiet day at
the park.
Gina now leads the Hope For Accreta Foundation, which she created. Accreta is the
larger group of related conditions that includes placenta percreta. The foundation
provides information and support for women facing these conditions.
"I just love helping people," says Gina. "It ends up helping me more
than I'm helping them."
Watching the wonderfully healthy and very active Addison on the swings, Gina reflects
on the experience she came through and the full, healthy life she’s living now.
"I'm blessed," she says. "I'm truly blessed."