Washington congresswoman asks for prayers for her baby
Jun 4, 2013, 5:58 PM | Updated: 6:17 pm
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler and her husband Dan Beutler, when she was sworn into office. The Beutlers are expecting their first child in October. (Cliff Owen/AP Photo)
(Cliff Owen/AP Photo)
About a month after announcing she is pregnant, a Washington congresswoman has shared the sad news that her baby has a potentially fatal disease.
Just as Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler and her husband Daniel announced their joyful news on Facebook, they’re now discussing online what they’ve learned about their unborn child.
“At a recent, routine ultrasound appointment we received the difficult news that our baby has a serious medical condition called Potter’s Syndrome,” she wrote.
Babies with Potter’s Syndrome typically die within a couple days of being born, according to the National Institute of Health.
Kidneys, which normally produce amniotic fluid, fail to develop properly as the baby is growing in the womb.
Without amniotic fluid, the infant is not cushioned from the walls of the uterus, which can lead to abnormal facial and limb development.
The condition, also called Potter’s Sequence, may also stunt the development of the lungs.
The congresswoman says she doesn’t know what the future holds, “but we ask for your prayers and appreciate the privacy a family needs in such circumstances.”
She also says, “According to the medical information and advice we’ve received, I will be able to continue to balance the responsibilities of an expectant mother with serving as your representative in Congress.”
By LINDA THOMAS
