Changing the Narrative for Trisomy 18

At her 20-week ultrasound, Chelsea learned of a likely diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Her Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) results 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. They sought out more information on their own and eventually made the decision to move from their home in Louisville, KY 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 continue to honor her memory through The Stella Effect nonprofit, through which Stella's impact lives on.