Faizah’s story

Faizah was 20-weeks pregnant when she found out her daughter, Hafsa, had spina bifida. Following an ultrasound at her local hospital to confirm the diagnosis, Faizah was transferred to our hospital for specialist care.

There she was told she required an MRI scan to get a more accurate picture of Hafsa’s condition. With no MRI scanner at our hospital, she was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, as the most appropriate hospital with an available appointment. 

Arriving at the Children’s Hospital, Faizah was struck by the reality of her daughter’s future. The experience triggered a number of emotions she wasn’t expecting. Faizah comments: “Walking into the Children’s Hospital for the first time while still pregnant was incredibly difficult, especially knowing Hafsa would be a future patient. Everything suddenly felt very real. It was such an overwhelming experience.”

“Sitting in the waiting room for my scan was especially hard. I was surrounded by so many amazing children, but I saw the worry on their parents’ faces, knowing this would soon be me. It was impossible not to see Hafsa in every one of those children. It didn’t feel right for me to be there at that time.” 

At her scan, Faizah faced another emotional curveball. “One of the hardest moments of my entire pregnancy was lying down in the MRI scanner, knowing one day my own daughter would have to lie in the same machine. The reality of that moment emotionally broke me.”  

Following her scan, the images were sent back to our hospital, where Faizah returned for her results. She added: “It was so difficult to be away from the Women’s Hospital while pregnant and carrying a lot of fear and uncertainty about my baby’s future. Having the opportunity to be scanned at the Women’s Hospital would’ve significantly reduced the mental toll it took on me during those months.” 

Faizah is one of around 270 patients every year who is required to travel to another hospital for an in-utero fetal scan to support with prenatal diagnoses and treatment plans.