We would like to
inform you that Dr. Shivani has reviewed the reports & found everything
fine except "Single circum nuchal loop of cord seen".
OK - Not quite the slide in to 32 weeks that I had envisaged i.e. - no email from India for 24 hours + 2 emails from me + rising anxiety and imagination overload + trying to keep it real + snipets of info to say scan was indeed done when scheduled - but reports couldn't be printed - technical hitch - so nothing sent - then another snipet to confirn that despite this the scan was good - then not long after that - the full report and scan emailled through at about 5pm last night. Phhheeeeeeewww!!! That's all I needed to hear! Followed by apologetic emails from India and a small change in future policies.
I know how easy it is to say things like "you must be calm, it is just a paperwork delay, these things happen" but the thing is - I didn't know that! I didn't know anything! I had unimaginable scenarios going on in my head because my telepathic powers were switched off and I couldn't actually see what was going on in Delhi - after ten years of bad scenarios it's difficult to think happy thoughts at a time like that. Having said all that - it was just an unfortunate alignment of the moons - I wouldn't swap anyone in the team for anyone else!! I have the utmost respect and faith in everyone - sometimes things just happen and a lot of the time they happen to me ha ha.
So like I said - not the smoothest, most graceful of transitions in to Week 32 but I am super happy to be out the other side. We have a healthy sounding baby - who I see is trying to wrap a cord around its neck (which I'm not even going to stress about because I am sure that will be fine ......) and I can continue on with Operation: "Departing Australia" and it's associated challenges.
Visa's are interesting - The Visa people from visainfo.inau@vfshelpline.com have said "We wish to inform you that you are required to apply for Indian Tourist visa" when asked what visa's my husband (the genetic father) and I need. However every other piece of evidence seems to say "Medical Visa" for him so will have to go with that one I think.....
So glad to hear that your scan is A OK and that you are at an exciting 32 Weeks. Hooray, hooray and hooray !!
ReplyDeleteI read a lawyers blog (Stephen Page) who spoke at the surrogacy conference and he too said to apply for a tourist visa.
Since the visa change announcement I understand that other Aussies (including Meg from SCI) genetic relations have applied for a medical visa and others (also genetically related) have the tourist...the visa office told me that we need an entry visa- which is incorrect but interestingly this came from the Canberra visa office ?!
I wrote back to clarify but never received a reply. Figures right : )
Thankfully we are not scheduled to go over until the other IPs are safely home so can learn from their experience. Will keep a close eye on yours though so please let us know what eventuates visa wise.
Best wishes and congrats !!
Glad it's good news. Two weeks ago I applied for a medical visa but at the visa office was told I needed a tourist visa. I queried the new public notice on the India High Commission's Australian website so they checked and then said I did need a medical visa as a genetic parent. They wouldn't accept the application until I included a letter from my clinic confirming the surrogacy agreement, pregnancy and approximate birth date. Visa was then issued in just 3 working days! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom, I thought I saw you post this on another blog but couldn't track it down, glad there a consensus is forming !
DeleteIn the US a tourist visa can be issued for longer (up to 10 years), but if you leave India you have to wait 2 months before returning (except if you are granted special permission.) with a medical visa you can return sooner, but they are issued for much shorter periods (1 year I think.)
ReplyDeleteMight want to check the particulars for Australia. They also can have max stay length (180 days for tourist visa for USA).
Yay you got the scan, great news, oooo exciting times getting everything ready for baby pick up, keep the posts coming Jacaranda, time is going to fly by x
ReplyDeleteYay finally got scan! We waited for our last scan an extra 5 days which felt like forever - especially since this was the same week we lost our first bub. Technical hitch with Dr Jolly's print outs apparently. When did you do the dna test? We're 12 weeks now and thought maybe we should start looking into this! I need a checklist with a timeline. If you need to kill time feel free to pop up a 'when to do' list. I've just started to believe this is really going to be! Hoping your next few weeks fly by!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's been 32 weeks already! Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteIts a nerve wracking journey! Take care and 32 weeks is awesome xx
ReplyDelete