At her 20 week ultrasound, Chelsea learned of a likely diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Her Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) results then also came back positive for Trisomy 18. Chelsea and her husband Doug felt tremendous pressure from the genetic counselor and many doctors involved in her care to pursue amniocentesis. Chelsea and her husband sought out more information about the diagnosis on their own (with the help of #Trisomy18) and eventually made the decision to move from their home in Louisville, KY in order to receive prenatal and postnatal care from a supportive care team in Cincinnati. Chelsea’s daughter Stella had a better prognosis than many children with Trisomy 18 yet still lived just 39 days. Chelsea and her family treasured their time with her and still love seeing The Stella Effect—how Stella has impacted so many lives. They have recently set up a nonprofit in this name.

Links and Resources
Follow The Stella Effect on Social Media
Instagram: @TheStellaEffect
Facebook: @TheStellaEffect
SOFT - Support Organization For Trisomy

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