Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Microarray results are back


My husband, Will, and I were out walking little Ms. Moxie yesterday evening down by the Hudson River when Will's Blackberry rang. It was Danielle, the genetics counselor in Denver, calling to say that our microarray chromosomal testing results were in.

Will told me later that his heart leapt into his throat as soon as she identified herself, but that his apprehension eased a bit when she said to put her on speaker phone (I guess Will thinks you can't tell people devastating news via speaker phone?). Since too much ambient noise makes outdoor speaker phone usage infeasible in Manhattan, Will graciously handed the phone to me and we strained to listen together to the news.

Can't believe the results are back this fast.

The samples shipped to the lab on March 23 (so 15 days from shipping to results - amazing). Heck, the egg retrieval was less than a month ago, on March 12.

And the news? The news is good, folks. Can you believe it? Mo and Will get some actual good news for once! Hallelujah!

Three of our four remaining blastocysts came back as euploid. Euploid! All 23 pairs of chromosomes normal! Who would ever have thought?!!!!

You want to know what is the wildest thing? All three of our normals are embryos that never would have been considered contenders (and actually never would have even existed) at our New York clinic - #2 in the country.

That's because one of our normal embryos was harvested immature and matured in vitro, which my New York clinic doesn't do. And the other two normals are our day 7 blastocysts. Usually, you want to have your embryo develop into a blastocyst by day 5, day 6 tops. Day 7 is sort of unheard of, so these embryos in almost any other situation would have been discarded as nonviable. But they are chromsomally a-ok. We are considering these three our darkhorse embryos, because without a lot of finessing (and patience) in the lab, they would never even be here.

And all the rest of our blastocysts? The ones that developed appropriately, on time, and in the usual way? ALL ABNORMAL.

Huh.

So we are thrilled. Super thrilled. Cautious at the same time, because this still feels a million miles away from an actual dirty diaper. But rejoicing nonetheless.

At the same time, we are beginning to try to figure out what to make of the fact that all of our outliers are normal whereas all of the typical front runners are aneuploid. And trying to suss out what in vitro maturation or Day 7 blast status might mean in terms of implantation potential.

But this is undeniably, unbelievably good news!!

We are capable of making normal embryos!!! What an amazing thing!

We are so grateful we finally took the plunge and trekked out to Denver.

Is it possible that our lives could change?

That we could actually be parents?

One step at a time, but also completely...

Mindblowing.

Mo

P.S. See below for the the obsessive version, if it is of interest.

Embryo #03
Day 6 blastocyst, grade 4AA
Was immature when retrieved and fertilized with Day 2 ICSI after in vitro maturation:
FISH testing: No diagnosis
Microarray testing: NORMAL!!!

Embryo #05
Day 7 blastocyst (very unusual to culture this far), grade 4AB
FISH testing: Normal
Microarray testing: NORMAL!!!

Embryo #06
Another miracle Day 7 blastocyst, grade 6BB
FISH testing: Normal
Microarray testing: NORMAL!!!

Embryo #07
Day 6 blastocyst, grade 4BB
FISH Testing: Normal
Microarray testing: Monosomy 13

Embryo #10
Day 6 blast, grade 3BB
FISH Testing: XXX
Microarray testing: Monosomy 15 and Monosomy 21
(interestingly, the XXX didn't show up on the microarray, which means that either the FISH test was in error, OR that this one is triploid in addition to the two monosomies)

Embryo #15
Day 6 blastocyst, grade 4BB
FISH testing: XXY
Microarray testing: XXY

Embryo #18
Day 6 blastocyst, grade 3AB
FISH testing: Mosaic (6 cells normal, 1 cell XYY, 1 cell XXY). Two mitotic errors
Microarray testing: Monosomy 13

Add to Google Reader or Homepage Subscribe in NewsGator Online Subscribe in Bloglines Add to My AOL

63 comments:

  1. Woohoo!!!!

    You are kind of winning me over CCRM at the same time too. I have to wonder if my slow embies were really ok and discarded etc.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I kid you not when I say I could not get this open fast enough when I saw it! I'm soooo very excited for ya'll!!!! Congratulations on some good news and praying this is just the start of more to come! Does make you wonder about those slower embies, we had so many of those over the five IVF cycles... ugh

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Mo and Will -- What unbelievably great news! I am a fellow CCRM-microarrayer -- and we are going in for our ET of 2 normal blasts Friday. (We are so ready to pick up the frozen family!) Just an FYI, on the Mr. IVF blog, one of the two blasts Mr IVF and his wife transferred post Microarray was a 12-cell on day 3 (I might not have the story totally straight, but it was something close to that). Any way, that 12-celler is currently a second trimester twin. So, you really can't judge a book by its cover. Good luck with transfer. I'll be checking back in to see how everything goes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Absolutely frickin amazing, Mo! Awesome! I can't believe it! So happy for you! =)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, I'm so thrilled for you!!! What comes next? When are you thinking about transfer?

    ReplyDelete
  6. What wonderful news! Fingers and toes crossed for you two!

    ReplyDelete
  7. super fantastic news! YEA!!!! Can not wait to hear about the transfer :).

    ReplyDelete
  8. Woohoo!!! That's so awesome--congratulations!! I'd be thrilled with one but three is absolutely amazing! You were overdue for some good luck.

    I hope you're still considering doing immune treatment before transfer (you tested positive for NKs, right?) just to cover all your bases?

    ReplyDelete
  9. WOW!!!! Wonderful, fantastic, splendid news! So when is transfer and will they transfer all three? What protocols will they be using for the FET? Details, girlfriend! I want details!

    (So very very very very happy for you!)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful, fantastic, life-changing, super, wonderful news!

    I am so happy for you two. I can't wait until you can transfer!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Julize,

    Thanks for the congrats! And yes, those types of questions are exactly what we are currently mulling over... can't remember everything I'm positive for anymore, but will be checking into it and making decisions...we want to give these embryos the best chance of implanting as possible!

    Mo

    ReplyDelete
  12. That is great news!!! Yay for some normal embryos. What a relief!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow - what GREAT NEWS! Looking forward to hearing about the next step.

    Good going!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yay! I'm so thrilled for the two of you! What a crazy story.

    ReplyDelete
  15. YAY! Congratulations! I think that is wonderful news! It is strange that your early-obvious contenders were all abnormal but the slow pokes were good! That would explain your past losses though, wouldn't it, and knowing that this time is different in that huge way should give you hope! I can't wait to hear what happens next!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am so happy for you, this is fantastic! All the best for the transfer!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. HOLY CRAP MO!!!!
    NORMAL EMBRYOS!
    PLURAL!
    MULTIPLE!
    MANY!


    I am so happy for you I could just bust open right now, rainbows and gold dust and angels singing. I am so so so so happy for you!!!!!!
    Best
    news
    ever

    Whoooooo hoooooooo!
    serious happy dance going on here in NH.
    thrilled and delighted and awestruck.

    NORMAL EMBRYOS!!!

    gosh darn. happy Kate.

    ReplyDelete
  18. That is awesome. Seriously wonderful. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  19. so very very happy for you and will, mo! great news :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! This just made my day! So happy for you.

    Rock on Wizards of Denver! Rock on Mo's ovaries!

    Is it too soon to offer you some cute maternity skirts? xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dora!! Yes, way too soon on the maternity skirts. But thanks for the happiness for us and for the good wishes!

    Mo

    ReplyDelete
  22. Mo! What wonderful, fantastic news!! I had a good feeling after the FISH results for some reason!

    I am SO thrilled for you, SO thrilled. Will getting anxious must have made the lab hurry up on those results, hey? :)

    Best of luck!! Keep us posted!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Amazing news! I'm a mom of CCRM microarray twins (after several failures in NYC), and I can't wait to hear about your transfer. I have a GREAT feeling for you. Believe in the magic that happens in Denver!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Congratulations!!!

    I find this all very interesting because I always felt that my clinic was not very tolerant of "non-traditional" embryos. They felt very strongly that if embryos did not make it to blast in culture that they were not good embryos. Also they NEVER would have cultured embryos to day seven. Day 6 was it.

    I hope hope hope these normal embryos stick. You may be breaking new ground for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow Mo - this is so great. I am so happy for you. I hope this is the beginning of the best year of your lives...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Have followed your story but not posted before and saw your update on Kate's blog. Awesome news! Hoping this is the first next step to success!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Fantastic! Will you transfer 1, 2, or all 3? CGH and you advocating for all your chances at embryos have really paid off!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Duuuuude. They SO can't wait to write an article about your Day 7 blasts turned babies. That is awesome...can't wait to hear as the rest pans out.

    ReplyDelete
  29. This...is...AMAZING NEWS!!!!!! :) So stoked for you guys!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Most fabuloso news, Congrats!!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Yay for you guys, and yay for Denver!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am so happy for you! What a relief - on so many levels - and of course there is a long road to go yet, but still! Yay for you!

    I wonder if your embies will have an impact on how slower developing embies are treated in other labs in the future? You could be part of changing things for everyone! Hope this all works out to some serious diapers soon.

    ReplyDelete
  33. So excited for you and so happy to hear wonderful news! Best wishes on a smooth and successful transfer!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wow, what great news! The treck out there does look like it was worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  35. fantastic!!! And, makes me wish other labs would be less ready to throw embryos/blasts out too early.

    ReplyDelete
  36. wonderful news! i will keep sending you peace and luck!

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh, YAY!!!! I have been checking back here compulsively to get the news, and I am so, so glad I checked in one more time before bed. This is amazing, hopeful, happy, wonderful news. Hope it's a sign of more AHHW news ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  38. That's awesome news!! Good luck with your transfer!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. OMG, that's incredible! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wonderful news! I am beyond excited for you! WoooHoooooo!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Wooo hooo! I am so, so, so happy for you. I was holding my breath and feeling a bit nervous when I opened your post.

    Who knows, maybe you'll start a new trend of Day 7 blasts in the infertility world.

    Hurray for happy news, and here's hoping there's a lot more of it to come in your future!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Congratulations!!! I´m amazed that all your "slow" ones are normal, it just goes to show that you never can tell which are the best ones, and grades are not everything :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. WOOHOO! Happy dance! Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for you guys. :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi, Mo. Lots of love to you and Will from the Vineyard. We are thinking the most positive thoughts. Everyone form biggest to smallest is crossing their fingers and toes.

    Love,

    RoRo

    ReplyDelete
  45. That was a fast turn around time. I'm excited to read this great news. I am 100% a believer that FLC is the cat's meow. I'm so hopeful for you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. That is fantastic news!!!! I am so happy for you both! I wish you all the best and more!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Fantastic! It's also so cool you get to learn such specific details about your little ones.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This is excellent news:) Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Truely wonderful news. And groundbreaking - Murgdan is so right! Really really really (really) happy for you. I've been following your journey for so long and I hope this works for you.

    ReplyDelete
  50. So very cool! Congratulations on the good news!

    Really makes me wonder if some labs are destroying embies/stopping too soon since maybe some just take longer to develop...

    ReplyDelete
  51. Oh Mo and Will, I am so so happy for you! Yay for your 3 normal embryos! Going to Denver was clearly the right choice! When will you be doing a FET?

    ReplyDelete
  52. My warmest congratulations on your normals! This is just fantastic news. CCRM rocks, I must say (biased as our two normals, twins, but from two separate retrievals at CCRM lie in the room next to me sleeping soundly). I am very excited for you both. Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'm late to the congrats party, but just had to add my heartfelt giant CONGRATS!! to the pile. This is such wonderful news! I'm so glad you made the trek out to Denver, and they were able to get you to this point. I'm grinning ear to ear for you both! For all 5 of you!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I am a little late, but this is such great news Mo! I am so happy for your both, I can't wait to hear the results from your FET.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Never say never, hey. Well done. This is just awesome news the mental hill you have just climbed in that you can produce normal embryos is an enormous enormous step forward. Congrats guys, I have the whole of Norway out celebrating for you.

    ReplyDelete

What do YOU think?

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Popular Posts