On August 26, 2019, the world as Jessika Turner knew it came to a standstill. She was 24 weeks pregnant and filled with a sense of anxiety. The routine OBGYN appointments had started to become increasingly frequent, and each visit seemed to bring more uncertainty. Jessika, already a mother-to-be for the first time, had meticulously planned every detail of her pregnancy, but something didn’t feel right.
Sitting in the exam room, waiting for the doctor, Jessika couldn’t shake the feeling that the news would be anything but ordinary. When the doctor entered the room with an unusually somber expression, her fears were confirmed. He said, “We can’t see any arms.” Jessika was in disbelief, repeatedly asking, “What do you mean?” The doctor couldn’t provide a definitive confirmation yet, but he believed their child would be born without upper extremities.
The news hit Jessika and her husband like a tidal wave. They returned home that day, hardly speaking, just clinging to each other for support. The following day, they visited a high-risk specialist at the best hospital in their area, clutching every ultrasound image from Jessika’s pregnancy. Jessika desperately pointed out what she thought were arms, hoping against hope for a mistake. But the pictures confirmed the heartbreaking truth: their son, Henry Wyatt, would be born without arms, his hands directly connected to his shoulders.
The days that followed were filled with tears, confusion, and a sense of helplessness. Jessika, overwhelmed with grief and fear, turned to Google, desperately searching for answers and clinging to hope. The doctors couldn’t confirm the diagnosis without the results from an amniocentesis, but they suspected Henry had a rare genetic disorder known as Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius Syndrome, or TAR Syndrome for short. This condition results in low blood platelets, missing arm bones, limb deformities, a weakened immune system, and often, a milk protein allergy. Henry’s case was even rarer, falling into the “short arm” category, meaning he would be missing all three arm bones.
The couple reached out to their close family members to share the limited information they had at the time, but there were more questions than answers. Jessika couldn’t help but wonder, “How can we raise a child with no arms?” Her concerns weren’t about the absence of arms; rather, she questioned their ability to provide for their extraordinary child.
Their next step was to learn to adapt. Jessika’s initial concerns included finding suitable clothing for Henry. She questioned why everything had sleeves when he wouldn’t need them. She felt overwhelmed by inadequacy. But as the reality sank in, Jessika realized she couldn’t dwell in that dark place. She had to fight, to figure out how to provide the best for her son, who was born with “lucky fins,” as they lovingly called his hands.
Through hours of research into their new future, Jessika found a lifeline of support on a TAR Syndrome Facebook page. These individuals offered hope and became her source of strength. One particular friend, Christina, guided her through the challenges of raising Henry.
When December finally arrived, Jessika was filled with anticipation, nervousness, excitement, and fear. She couldn’t wait to meet her son, who had already changed her world. Henry Wyatt entered the world at 12:54 p.m. via C-section, weighing 6.2 pounds. Although Jessika had originally wanted a vaginal birth, the doctors advised against it due to the uncertainty surrounding Henry’s platelet levels.
The couple was grateful for the C-section, as Henry’s platelets hovered around 13,000, a critically low number compared to the normal range of 150,000 to 450,000 for a healthy newborn. Henry spent his first month in the NICU, a challenging start to life. They were released on Christmas Day, only to return two days later due to a heightened white blood cell count.
Their journey has been marked by numerous transfusions, IVs, tests, exams, and X-rays, but it has also been defined by the love and support they received. The NICU nurses became Jessika’s lifeline, especially Rachel, who helped her navigate the challenges of breastfeeding. Although they later had to switch to exclusive pumping, Jessika proudly continued to provide for her son for a year.
Jessika reflects on their unique situation, realizing that they were chosen for this path, even though it may never fully make sense. She’s embraced their reality and is determined to make the best of it. Henry is now 18 months old and is a perfect boy in their eyes. Jessika looks forward to witnessing the person he will become and cherishes every moment with him. Despite the hardships, their mantra remains: “No arms? No problem!”
This inspiring journey is a testament to the boundless love of a mother and her unwavering commitment to provide the best life possible for her extraordinary son, Henry Wyatt.
