We first discovered that our baby likely had Trisomy 18 during my first trimester of pregnancy, through DNA testing of my own blood. Although we declined further, more invasive testing to confirm the diagnosis, each subsequent ultrasound provided further support of the diagnosis.  Trisomy 18, also known as Edward’s Syndrome, is a chromosomal condition associated with abnormalities in various parts of the body. Due to the presence of life-threatening medical issues, many of these precious babies die before, during or shortly after birth. However, with proper access to specialized care, many babies now live well-beyond their first year(s) of life.

When our beautiful baby boy, Asher Nathaniel Gibson was born on Father’s Day, we immediately knew he indeed had Trisomy 18, but we heard him cry and that gave us hope and strength. Over the next several weeks, as our love for our son grew stronger and stronger, our knowledge of how severely his body was affected also grew; he had significant heart defects that required surgery and caused him to not be able to breathe on his own. 

Although we were blessed to have such a special little boy in our lives for a short amount of time, we accrued significant medical expenses beyond that covered by our health insurance plan. Fortunately, we had the means to pay for those expenses. However, we know many families do not, especially those whose children live much longer than our son did. From medical supplies or treatments not fully covered by insurance, to travel expenses for families to get to “Trisomy-friendly” healthcare, the costs can add a significant burden to families who are already dealing with a difficult diagnosis for their babies. Through our experience, we knew that we wanted to help families faced with these issues.

And that’s where the concept for Asher’s Answer was borne. We founded Asher’s Answer to help offset some of the costs faced by families with babies with rare trisomies, including trisomies 18 and 13, as well as other rare chromosomal syndromes. By providing modest financial help, we can help families focus on what’s most important—quality time with their babies. With your help, we can help so many families enjoy more precious moments with these very special and very loved babies.