Posts by Olivia Cooper272

Linda Ward312 said:I’m seriously losing my mind here, just finished week 28 and I feel like I could sleep for a century 😠 Honestly, I’ve just been crashing all day, only actually getting up if I need to grab a snack or hit the restroom 😳
Is anyone else feeling this way, or am I just totally out of whack?

Just sleep whenever you get the chance. Honestly, I’ve got it backwards. I’m forced to take it easy, but even when I crash around 11:30 PM, I can't drift off immediately. I just toss and turn all night, and if I’m lucky, I might finally pass out after 4:00 AM. Sleep deprivation is driving me insane.

It honestly drives me nuts that I’m stuck on strict bed rest again when the weather outside is this damn gorgeous.

My OB-GYN is seriously getting on my nerves. Every single time I’ve gone in—well, except for last time—she told me we’d be doing an ultrasound every other visit, but then she shows up today and just drops this on me 🤷
The woman handled my first pregnancy perfectly, but now it’s just one stupid mistake after another. Honestly, I have no clue if she actually performed an ultrasound on someone else or if she's just skipping it. At least with those, you aren't wasting supplies. If they really needed more, I could just go grab some lube or that gel they slather on your stomach, but the machine itself doesn't just run out of juicediv>

Steven Barrett6 said:$33 That's just how they do things at your checkup, it's really not that big of a deal
Ugh, whatever, you can't fight their damn rules

Sure, it’s not a massive amount, but we’re pregnant and paying our premiums and taxes for healthcare, so they should at least stop charging us for basic services. I dealt with this huge hematoma along with a bunch of smaller ones, and how was the doctor supposed to know the hematoma was gone? She just told me everything was fine and to quit taking the pills. I knew the meds weren't doing anything, and I knew things were okay because the doctor's incompetence forced me to go to a private clinic for prenatal care. She didn't even see the pregnancy when I was five weeks along. Then my older daughter got sick and, since I was certain I wasn't pregnant, I took her right into an X-ray room. The next day, because of symptoms pointing toward pneumonia and sinus issues, I was sent for chest and sinus scans—basically, if she had actually realized I was pregnant, I wouldn't have been blasted twice, once directly and once indirectly. You have no idea how I felt when she finally told me three weeks later that I was pregnant, only to say she couldn't see the fetus, and then three days after I started bleeding, she "discovered" the fetus was already the size of an eight-week pregnancy. She completely missed the infection...
At a private clinic, I pay $42 (I get 50% off through my husband's corporate insurance plan) and the doctor there is actually skilled, thorough, and genuinely dedicated. Their ultrasound machine is way more advanced than the junk at the public clinic, and they focus entirely on you. An appointment, consultation, and everything else takes about 30 to 45 minutes. At the public clinic, you're done with the exam and the ultrasound in maybe 5 to 7 minutes tops.

1. I seriously can't stand it when people announce they're dropping by unannounced. It turns the whole week into this frantic mess where everyone’s scrambling—like, "Oh, the first daughter is coming over, so forget everything else!" Suddenly, nobody has time for their grandma anymore, or they just dodge her entirely because they're too busy dealing with the chaos. And now, one of my houseguests has been running a fever and fighting the flu for two days straight. I'm pregnant, which basically means my immune system is non-existent, and the little one is super sensitive. If I catch whatever this bug is, I'm toast.
2. Then there's my insurance provider. My OB-GYN hasn't even done an ultrasound in six weeks because Blue Cross Blue Shield decided that pregnancy only covers three scans total. Not to mention, back when I was 8 weeks along, I had a 7cm hematoma. Who knows if that thing even cleared up? Now, the doctor is telling me if I want another scan to actually check, I have to pay out of pocket.🙂

It seriously gets under my skin when people start picking at names.
Nobody has any right to comment on what someone names their kid. That whole thing about Shogi is just straight-up unhinged—going up to someone and telling them their kid’s name sounds like a dog's? Like, why even? Why bother being that weird to people? I gotta say, we never had an issue with it on our end, except for my mom, who was obsessed with Viti. She kept insisting it sounded like some mobster name, but she eventually moved past it. Still, every single time she comes over, she asks if anyone said anything about the name, and I just tell her "nope," absolutely nothing—nothing at all—and that usually shuts the whole thing down.
peace

John, Lana, Tia, and Eve are all solid names, and even Victor—if we end up having a boy, he’s definitely getting that one. Look, I get it. You don't want people making fun of your kid's name, so you probably don't feel like making fun of anyone else's either, even if their kid is named after some mobster from a Scorsese flick. My whole vibe is pretty simple: if something bugs me, I’ll say it out loud, but I’m not about going around judging other people's business.

Maria Fisher46 said:Hey Olivia Cooper272,

Looking at those blood counts you posted (and just sticking to what you actually told me!), honestly, everything looks pretty standard given that you’re pregnant. It’s totally normal for things to shift a bit—you'll often see a slight bump in leukocytes, a higher percentage of neutrophils in the CBC, and maybe a little extra eosinophils. That’s exactly what’s happening in your case.

As for the urine results, nothing here screams "emergency." You’ve got a few extra leukocytes and some red blood cells showing up, but don't sweat it too much yet. Since you're pregnant, your doctor will probably just order a urine culture to rule out any sneaky infection and be safe.

One thing I noticed: you didn't mention protein levels. Usually, they check that during a routine urinalysis using a Test-trak Spec., so I'm guessing yours came back clean, which is why you didn't bring it up. For pregnant women, seeing a "0" or just a "trace" is fine, but if you see one or more plus signs (+/++/+++/++++), that means there's too much protein in there.

Bottom line: take these numbers to your doctor. They have the full picture of your health and are the only ones who should call the shots on what to do next.

Best, 🙂

Thanks for the info,
the numbers I listed are just the ones that were outside the normal range or didn't have specific references. Protein was checked and it was at 0, so I think we're good there. I'm going to send my husband over to the primary care doctor with the results so she can take a look (I'm skipping the office myself because I don't want to catch anything in the waiting room since everything seems to be going my way right now), especially since my OB appointment isn't for another two weeks.

Thanks again,
Best,

Hey, just another pregnant lady here staring at some confusing blood work. I could really use some help interpreting this.

K-Leukocytes 11.0 (3.4-10.0)

differential count
segmented neutrophils 74.1 (44.0-72.0)
eosinophils 7.1 (0.0-7.0)
lymphocytes 11.9 (20.0-46.0)

urinalysis

color yellow
appearance cloudy
pH acidic (4.6-7.5)
nitrites neg. (0)

urine sediment

erythrocytes 3-5
leukocytes 5-10
epithelial cells trace
bacteria trace
mucus trace

Should I head to the ER or what?
thanks

It honestly drives me up the wall when my mother-in-law starts preaching at me about just lying around and letting nature take its course—like, "just relax, as long as the baby is healthy and whole, everything is fine." It’s like, yeah, everyone says "stay positive" and "hope for the best," but hearing it constantly like that? It totally loses me. It's infuriating.😠

northernraven49 said:A letter from Daniela to "a certain gentleman."

Regarding that gentleman—he might not have meant any harm, but given the reality we're living through right now, I can't just sit here and stay silent. My two-year-old has been going through a literal hell for months now, a level of suffering you couldn't even fathom in your wildest dreams just to fight for their own life. Because of that, I simply cannot tolerate hearing her spoken about as if she were nothing more than an expense or a drain on resources that could be "better utilized" elsewhere.

The clerk who handled our request at Medicare doesn't exactly possess a crystal ball or any sort of psychic intuition to determine who stands a chance and who doesn't. To be honest, she had never even heard of this diagnosis, let alone understood anything about it or the actual survival odds involved. In fact, it felt like nobody else in the entire country knew what we were dealing with.
I also highly doubt that "efficiency" or deciding who actually stands a chance is part of a doctor's job description. In my view, their sole responsibility should be to treat the patient in front of them, period. Regardless of the circumstances, they should be focused on healing every individual under their care.
Our request wasn't denied because of the money, even though, as you pointed out, Leona represents a significant cost to our healthcare system. It was rejected solely because one doctor decided she’d make the perfect test subject—essentially deciding that a child with her diagnosis hasn't even happened yet, or likely won't, so we might as well play around with her case. But those are secondary issues for now; we'll be settling that in court.
The situation with Leona Zajšek is a perfect parallel to the tragic case of Martina Piric—both are absolute embarrassments to the Republic of America. It’s even more infuriating when you consider how the institutions handled Martina’s case; they only decided to step up after the public outcry reached a breaking point. Honestly, I have nothing good to say about their decision to finally offer financial support only after it was already too late.

Fortunately, we find ourselves in a completely different situation here. In this system, they don't sit around calculating how much a patient costs; the only metric that matters is how to actually help them. They don't just give up on anyone—not until every single possible avenue has been exhausted. And trust me, that process definitely doesn't end just because a diagnosis has been handed down.

What would you even say to a child who has survived their third transplant?
What was the actual price tag on all of that? And what were his odds? Let's be real—the cost of his treatment was astronomical, and the statistical chance of someone surviving three separate rounds of everything he went through was practically zero. Yet, here he is. He survived. When that first transplant failed, none of the doctors even blinked. They weren't sitting there calculating the bill or second-guessing whether it would work. They just immediately pivoted to the next attempt, then the one after that. They kept going until it finally worked.
Could they have managed the funds more efficiently? Could they have bragged about how much they saved? Of course they could. But at the end of the day, we aren't here to audit a balance sheet; we’re counting the lives that were actually saved. Money matters, obviously—it's vital—but it isn't the primary metric for success here.
Personally, I don't think our story has truly touched you, much like any other. It feels to me like you all live in your own little bubble, preoccupied with your own struggles and convinced that things like this only happen to other people. Our situation has become quite public—which isn't something I’m particularly happy about, but that's just how it turned out—and the facts are all there for anyone to verify. That said, I have no intention of trying to convince you that what we're going through is real, nor am I here to ask for your money or your sympathy.
I honestly don't believe you ever actually step up to help anyone, whether through official channels or otherwise. It’s just not your priority. Besides, I’m not sure why you all seem so convinced that you can trust how donations are handled, especially after those scandals involving child abuse at Caritas. But look, it doesn't matter. It's your money and your right to feel however you want about it.
And then there’s that friend of yours who buys a pair of shoes for $200, only to end up Venmoing someone later. $1.75Honestly, I think she can sleep soundly at night. That’s her money, and she can spend it however she damn well pleases. At least she actually stepped up and did something. You guys? You haven't done a thing.
Beyond the fact that you personally insulted me by referring to my child as an "expense," there’s also the matter of all these wonderful people trying to help us being mocked by idiots who claim they’re just throwing money away because Leona is a lost cause. Well, if you ask me, those donors are the true heroes here. They can sleep soundly knowing they contributed something meaningful toward saving a human life. To everyone who donated even a single cent... $1.75 Even those who didn't donate a single cent reached out. They called just to check in, to see how things were going, and to send their best wishes. I think it’s because they were all deeply moved by the fate of one little kid who is going through unimaginable pain.
It doesn't matter what you think. It really doesn't. You’re all still stuck on the idea that "doctors correctly assessed this was a lost cause," and therefore that $200,000 would be better spent elsewhere. Probably on some politician's hemorrhoid surgery, if we're being honest.
I genuinely wonder how you would react if it were you or your own family. Would you decide that you’re just a "drain on resources" and tell people to go help someone with a better chance, or would you expect help?
Personally, no human life is ever a waste. We aren't some charity case; we have jobs, an apartment, and a car. But unfortunately, we don't have $200,000 lying around to fund her treatment. I’ve never been in debt to anyone in my life, nor have I ever been in a position where I had to beg for anything. Now, I find myself owing a massive number of people across the entire country, and let me tell you, it isn't fun. Honestly, it’s pretty humiliating.
But I made a promise to myself that I would do EVERYTHING for her. Because I wouldn't be any happier if I had a BMW parked outside my window instead of an old junker, or $200 shoes instead of $67, but I would be miserable for the rest of my life if I failed to help her. At the end of the day, the only things truly worth anything to me are my children, my family, and my friends.
That is the only thing that actually matters. Everything else is just stuff—things that might make life a little easier, sure, but they are ultimately insignificant. My car, my apartment, my TV, everything I own is a "waste" by that logic, but a human life is a GIFT, and every single one is worth fighting for.

👋👋👋

Honestly, you should probably go see a doctor,
bad circulation?
maybe it’s some kind of vein issue?

My heart goes out to everyone because of Dean.
Look, thank goodness I’m not going through what you guys are dealing with right now, but I’m always lurking here reading your stuff. Reading your posts makes me feel for you, even if I don't—and honestly, don't want to—know exactly what it's like to be in your shoes. I loved Dean just as much as you all did. I looked up to her, just like you guys, and I truly think she was one of the most incredible and gutsy people out there. You should all take comfort in the fact that you knew her—whether it was through this screen or maybe even in person—and that you were able to support her, just like she was always sharing her wisdom and experience with you.
Sending love and good vibes to everyone. Just keep doing that good work you're doing.