Marissa, born 1997

My name is Marissa, I am 20 years old, and I was diagnosed with Classical PKU at birth. My whole life I have struggled with my diet, my best levels being when I was only 5. Ever since then my levels have been crazy high, I’m talking mid to high 20s. It was never really a struggle for me to not eat the things I wasn’t supposed to, I just always ate way too much of the things I was allowed to have. On top of that, I struggled with drinking my formula because they stopped making the formula that I had drank since birth. Luckily that isn’t an issue anymore. I found a formula that I am content with, PhenylAde GMP Vanilla flavor. I like to mix strawberry syrup in with it to give it a more appealing flavor. I think around the end of August or beginning of September last year (I can’t remember exactly which) I went to the doctors for an ear infection. They collected a urine sample for medicinal reasons. The doctor came back in and informed me that I was pregnant, I had no idea. And I was terrified. I had lost 4 babies prior to this pregnancy. So when I found out I did all of the things that I had to do. I did a blood draw, and scheduled appointments with a high risk OB and my specialist. When I got pregnant my most recent phe level was a 24. My doctors told me all of my life to never get pregnant because I never had my levels under control, and it would be nearly impossible for me to have a healthy pregnancy. So when they found out that I was pregnant they were so disappointed in me. But within just one week, I brought my level from a 24 down to a 3, and it has been between a 2-6 (pregnancy range) ever since. Needless to say, my doctors and my family are SO proud of me. I was due April 30th 2018, so I am currently 40 weeks and 2 days pregnant with my perfectly HEALTHY baby boy. It is not impossible, but it is also not easy. Either way, the reward definitely out weighs the struggle! I am so proud of myself for everything that I have accomplished, and being able to say that despite what everyone thought and told me that I carried my baby boy to term with absolutely no problems or complications.