Our journey has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. We never know what is next, where this road will lead, or when we will arrive. 

Theo and I have been working through the IVF process to be able to have more children. We chose IVF because we can genetically test our embryos to screen for Alpers. 

We have undergone many tests and are working to have some of our family members complete tests. To keep things simple in this blog, it is to help create a map to ensure that the embryos we move forward with do not have Alpers and that we do not lose another baby.

When I was on the phone with our genetics counselor this week, they told me that Archer’s DNA is still in the lab. This DNA was pulled when we were trying to find a diagnosis for Archer’s illness. 

The genetics counselor told me that she was surprised the DNA was still out there. Labs simply purge unused DNA, and there is no specific timeframe for the purge. Therefore, a lab having Archer’s DNA more than six months after it was initially pulled was surprising to our genetic counselor and us.

No, it was a miracle. God gave me another miracle through Archer’s life.

Theo and I had an option to either sign to have Archer’s DNA forever stored or to have our new laboratory use it to help them map what Alpers looks like within our family genetics. 

While I know Archer’s soul is not on earth, it was emotional to know there was a part of him ‘living’ on this earth. A piece of my baby is out there… 

Theo and I signed away the DNA to the new lab, and once it is used, there will be no DNA left in this world. All of him, outside of his ashes, will be gone…

I don’t know about you, but that is a tough emotional pill to swallow. 

However, what is more, important is:

In Archer’s death, he is bringing new, healthy life into our family.

We can be more sure of what Alpers looks like; we can have a map for this and have a minimal percent likelihood of having another child with Alpers. 

One day, Theo and I hope to have a little baby miracle, thanks to Archer. However, Archer was and will always be my little miracle.