Today we’d like to introduce you to Marla Hamann
Hi Marla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Marla Hamann, and I am a proud mother of 3 wonderful children. However, the journey I have been on for motherhood has not always been easy. My two older children from my previous relationship were conceived with no limitations or differences. When I remarried, my husband did not have children, and we decided to start our family. We lost two babies prior to having our rainbow baby, Emma Layne.
Our first baby was only 5 weeks when we lost him or her. That pregnancy ended in me losing a fallopian tube because of an ectopic pregnancy. When I went to the doctor for a follow up to make sure everything was ok so we could try again, the doctor found a cyst that was life threatening. I was told I was going to need emergency surgery because if that cyst burst, I could die immediately. So that same day, I had surgery to clean out the toxins that were already inside my body and the blood that was a sign that I could go at any minute. The doctors told me that I had an angel watching down on me because I was a ticking time bomb.
After 8 months, we found out we were pregnant again and so excited to start our family. Then, COVID hit. Because of my age, I was sent to MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) to make sure that everything was ok. At that visit, I was told that the next time I went to the doctor; there would not be a heartbeat. Two days later, at my doctor… there was not heartbeat. We were only 16 weeks pregnant and because I was not 20 weeks or more, I couldn’t take my baby home and give her a proper burial. She was kept for scientific research. I was so devastated and went into a huge depression. We then were called later with details of our baby. She had fluid all over her body and had Down Syndrome. At this point, I was done.
After about 3 months, we found out we were expecting again. This time, I was more hesitant and extremely scared. But after our genetic appointment, we were given the news that we were having a healthy baby girl. Finally!!! I could breathe. Until… we went for our anatomy scan. At this appointment, there were questions about baby girl’s arms and hands. Again, we were sent to MFM to look more closely and find out what this was. We were told it was TAR Syndrome. I remember asking God why this was happening to me and not wanting anything to do with God anymore. But after some time, I felt I needed to pray. Pray to God that all would go well with this pregnancy and that we would have a healthy baby girl no matter the issue of her arms. Because this syndrome is very rare, only found in 1 out of 200,000 births, there is not much information about this condition. The internet is highly outdated, and doctors are not well-informed about it. So, we lived with her unknown condition until we met doctors who had seen this before and met families and individuals with this condition, many of which have very normal happy lives. I literally cried knowing my baby girl would have a future. So, this is a dedicated to all the families, all the individuals who have TARS, especially to our Precious Warrior Princess Emma Layne. We want for all families with future TAR babies to be informed of what is to come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The not knowing what is TARS and not having a lot of information was the scariest.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I worked as the Office Manager for Home Instead Senior Care but took a demotion so that I can work from him and be a stay at home mom. With Emma’s disability, I wanted to be able to give her the best one on one care I could give her. Working from home gives me the ability to write children’s books about TARS. I want to be able to get in the e homes of families so they can know and understand what TARS is.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
To live one day at a time. And that my warrior princess is going to live an amazing life adapting in her own way. We encourage her to try things and she is determined to get it done in her own ways.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tat21.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarsawarenesstexas21
