Shriners Children’s Greenville prenatal program is giving families hope

When Angela Crabtree was 24 weeks pregnant, the world stopped spinning.

An ultrasound had revealed what was suspected at first to be a withered hand, but at 24 weeks was confirmed to be arthrogryposis, a genetic limb and joint condition that can have a range of severity. Crabtree, who lives in Lenoir City, Tennessee, was given a grim prognosis for her son.

“It was consistently dire,” she said. “We had to go every week because we were high risk at that point. And every week, we were told to abort, where to abort because we're fairly late in the pregnancy. Have a photographer that's not afraid of dead babies. Be prepared to plan a funeral – really, really dire pregnancy forecast. Our pregnancy journey is not a very happy one.”

But when Elliot, now 7, was born, he defied the odds. Now Crabtree is speaking out about the Prenatal Orthopedic Consult Program at Shriner Children’s Greenville, a program she wishes she would have had during her complicated pregnancy. The program connects hospital staff with expectant parents whose child has been diagnosed with an orthopedic condition.

“Here at Shriners Hospital, we take care of primarily pediatric orthopedic conditions, and children from newborns all the way up to age 18,” David Westberry, a physician at the hospital, director of its limb deficiency program, and medical director of the motion analysis laboratory, said. “We see all types of congenital deformities, which are deformities that babies are born with. With technology, specifically prenatal ultrasound, many of these disorders can be identified prenatally. This service allows the family to make contact with our hospital and get information and education and come to us for those needs before the child is born.”

Westberry said the program does not treat patients in utero, but it can make an enormous difference for parents and set the stage for what can happen once a child is born.

“This program allows the family to basically partner with Shriners, and we can give them good solid education about what the future looks like, and hopefully relieve some of that prenatal anxiety that may develop,” he said.

Crabtree said she thinks having access to such a program would have helped her connect with Elliot differently at birth.

“It’s going to sound terrible, but I think I would have just went into this being a better mom,” she said. “I went into Elliot's birth very robotic – I have this checklist and I love this baby, but I'm so scared to overly attach because I don't know that I get to keep him, just constantly preparing my heart for the worst.”

Westberry said the concept of wraparound care allows for the partnership during pregnancy and after birth.

“When you're a young mom or young family and you get information like that, it can be very disconcerting,” he said. “For many of the conditions that are diagnosed in utero, there are treatments – and there are good treatments.”

In many cases, Westberry said the program can provide reassurance that the life of the child can be improved.

Crabtree said having that support is critical. And now, Elliot, who is still treated at Shriner Children’s Greenville, is “awesome.”

“He's doing great,” she said. “He's in regular public education. He's in the top two percent of his class and very bright, very charismatic. He's the most charismatic, joyful – I mean, that kid is like the embodiment of joy. He's just such a such a bright light.”

Learn more at shrinerschildrens.org/locations/greenville.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Shriners Children’s Greenville prenatal program is giving families hope