Meet Nora & The Durands

At 20 weeks gestation, after a scare from a blood test at 15 weeks that was unconfirmed, we received a diagnosis of full Trisomy 13 for our first baby. We decided to continue with the pregnancy and found out we were having a girl four days later, on my 27th birthday. While we were told for the majority of my pregnancy that babies with T13/18 had “abnormalities”, a family friend used the term “exceptionalities.” Our exceptional daughter, Nora “Bee” Marie was born at 31 weeks exactly, defying so many odds in utero, and then being born alive at 2:15 pm on May 20th, 2021. After immediately opening her left eye, she gazed curiously at us and let out a cry; that was the proudest moment of my life. A nurse placed her iconic yellow, way-too-big hat on her head and we were smitten. 

We got 5 wonderful hours and 9 perfect minutes with our little bee. Nora got to meet 3/4 grandparents and both of her aunts; a dream come true in the midst of Covid, as our nurses kept sneaking our family in. We bathed her, read to her, and sang to her. My husband Chris assisted in baptizing Nora while she was alive, another dream come true for him. Truthfully, her whole life was a dream come true. Those five hours and nine minutes were filled with laughter at her obvious sass, some happy tears stemming from pride and joy, and so so much love. Nora fell asleep forever at 7:24 pm. She was held for her entire life. 

In the days since Nora’s diagnosis, life, and death, being connected to the small but mighty trisomy community has been vital for my experience as her mom. Lifelong friendships have been made, new siblings have been introduced, and the comfort of having a village of friends who “get it” has happened from a simple hashtag, punctuating posts about other exceptional children, such as the incredible campers that we are so excited to meet through The Stella Effect. Thank you for the opportunity to share Nora, and for sharing your children with us.