All-American sextuplets expected by Lake Havasu couple
Mom-to-be in Phoenix to receive care by specialists at Phoenix Perinatal Associates
PHOENIX (April 12, 2007) – Their's is an all-American story. But one extraordinary pregnancy is about to set Jenny and Bryan Masche apart from their friends and neighbors in Lake Havasu, Ariz. They are about to join the ranks of a very small club of American families with sextuplets.
Jenny and Bryan were pen pals before they ever met in person. He was a reserve airman serving in the security forces in Kuwait. He was activated following the events of September 11. Jenny was working as a physician assistant in Texas her first job out of Midwestern University. Upon finishing his tour of duty, and returning to his studies at Arizona State University, he asked for her hand in marriage on camera at an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game. They settled into a home in Arizona where both had family.
They hoped to start a family of their own – the next chapter in their love story – but they suffered setbacks including two miscarriages. Feeling anxious, they looked into fertility treatment in Nevada, and selected artificial insemination which carries a low risk of multiple births. Within weeks the shocked couple learned of the astonishing pregnancy that was underway. Jenny was pregnant with sextuplets including three boys and three girls.
Jenny and Bryan are fortunate to have lots of medical support and knowledge within their extended family. Jenny was a physician’s assistant in a Kingman (Ariz.) emergency room until she was unable to work, and Bryan has a career in pharmaceutical sales. Other family members include a nurse, a pharmacist, a pediatrician and even a neonatologist (specialist in premature and critically ill newborns). They had plenty of help as they started their research about how to proceed with this very high-risk pregnancy. They soon discovered they would not have to travel far to find the experience they needed – just about 200 miles to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix.
Dr. John Elliott, his colleagues at Phoenix Perinatal Associates and the staff at Banner Good Samaritan have developed an international reputation for their care and management of women delivering high-order multiples (triplets or more). Many families expecting high-order multiples come to Phoenix from other parts of the country 15 to 20 weeks into pregnancy in order to receive care at Banner Good Samaritan. Dr. Elliott and these amazing families have been the subject of several documentaries on this topic.
This is the second set of sextuplets cared for at Banner Good Samaritan, but five sets of quintuplets have been delivered at the hospital, and about 75 sets of quadruplets. This is thought to be more sets of high order multiples than has been delivered at any other hospital in the country, and perhaps the world.
Individuals wishing to send congratulations, prayers, emails and letters of support can reach the family at maschemiracles@yahoo.com. A benefit account has been set up for the family at Bank of America (statewide) under “Masche Sextuplet Fund.”
Located in downtown Phoenix, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been providing medical care to Arizona and the Southwest since 1911. Banner Good Samaritan is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a not-for-profit organization. The hospital was named to U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Hospitals report in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heart Care and Surgery and Endocrinology. We have also been recognized as a Magnet facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor a hospital can earn for its nursing care.
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Reporters and editors:
For interviews/information about Mrs. Masche’s care and delivery,
please contact Banner Good Samaritan at 602-239-4411.
For information on the care of the babies after birth,
please contact Phoenix Children’s Hospital at 602-546-5871.
Pronunciation of the family name is: ma-shay
Contact:
Banner Good Samaritan Public Relations
(602) 239-4411
