U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler recently received difficult news that the unborn baby she’s carrying has an often-fatal condition affecting its kidneys and lungs.
“Our baby has a serious medical condition called Potter’s Syndrome,” Herrera Beutler announced Monday on Facebook. “We have had a second opinion and the medical diagnosis was consistent with the initial news: there is no medical solution available to us. We are praying for a miracle.”
Potter’s Syndrome prevents an unborn baby’s kidneys from developing normally, which reduces the amount of amniotic fluid in the womb and prevents adequate lung growth. The condition is almost always fatal, and babies with Potter’s Syndrome typically die within a couple days of being born.
Herrera Beutler said she became aware of the problem during a routine ultrasound test.
“We don’t know what the future holds for our family, but we ask for your prayers and appreciate the privacy a family needs in such circumstances,” Herrera Beutler wrote. “According to the medical information and advice we’ve received, I will be able to continue to balance the responsibilities of an expectant mother with serving as your representative in Congress.”
