- April 25, 2024
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As Jessica Trinkle sat in her OBGYN’s office on Friday, Nov. 1, she felt an overwhelming concern.
At 24 weeks into her pregnancy, there was something wrong with her baby.
The doctors couldn’t confirm the diagnosis at that time, but they told her a general idea: there was a lesion in Parker’s spinal cord.
“The first three days were absolutely miserable for me,” the Palm Coast mother said. “I didn’t really talk to anyone except my family.”
After telling her husband, Spenser Trinkle, the two spent the weekend worrying — and Googling — despite being warned not to do so. They couldn’t help it; it was the only thing on their minds.
On Monday, Nov. 5, they traveled to Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, where doctors confirmed the exact diagnosis: spina bifida.
“When you first hear it, it’s gut-wrenching,” Spenser Trinkle said.
Four days later, they sat on their couch as their healthy 2-year-old girl Aria carried her dolls around the house.
“She just says, ‘Parker’s going to get better at the hospital.’ She prays with us; it’s so cute,” Spenser Trinkle said about Aria.
On Tuesday, Nov. 13, Jessica Trinkle went back to Winnie Palmer for an in-utero surgery on Parker for the repair of myelomeningocele. The couple was told this was the fourth Spina Bifida surgery done in the Orlando hospital, but their doctor has conducted over 60 previously elsewhere.
“We’re prepared for the surgery to only fix his head, but if it does end up fixing his legs like it does with tons of children, we’d just be so happy about that,” Jessica Trinkle said. “But if it doesn’t, we’ll do whatever it takes.”
With medical costs and 14 days of recovery after the ICU for Jessica (before more bed rest at home), the Trinkles didn’t know how they’d be able to pay for everything.
A family friend named Stephanie Thornton created a Facebook fundraiser after the couple received the news, and, within 24 hours, their $10,000 goal had been met.
“To have that support, it makes you feel so good,” Spenser Trinkle said. “We never want to be somebody to have a handout or anything like that, because we worked for everything.”
Eight days since the fundraiser was created, $15,020 had been raised by 318 people, showing the overarching support for “Prayers for Parker.”
The couple said the money will help pay for future surgeries and medical supplies needed for Parker.
“I could personally deal with a walker or anything like that,” Jessica Trinkle said. “But I just wanted to make sure that my baby’s brain was going to be OK — like is he going to know me? … This surgery will prevent that from happening.”
The Trinkles have already been through their fair share of hardships. Spenser’s sister was killed by a drunk driver a few years ago. His brother’s newborn was born with a brachial plexus injury. Their father has mercury poisoning.
“We’ve always been a strong family, just because of the trials and tribulation we go through anyway,” Spenser Trinkle said. “We’re going to do whatever we can for this baby to live the best life that he can. We’ll make sure that he’s happy and healthy, and that’s all that matters because we’re together.”
