Guest blogger Liesl Bradner: I was only 24 weeks along in my pregnancy when I was given the recommendation of termination not by one but two reputable doctors.

I'll never forget the vacant yet grim look on the doctor's face during my sonogram and the words he spoke: "There's a problem with the baby's kidneys."

I can't remember what he uttered after that. It all sounded like mumbo jumbo: Multicystic kidneys, dilations, cysts, renal pelvis and parenchyma. The diagnosis of Multicystic kidneys was not good. The baby would likely die in utero or, if he did make it to term, soon after delivery.

How could we possibly terminate when I've seen his sweet face on the monitor? We visited another doctor who gave us the same verdict. She threw out more medical jargon, none of which I understood. All I cared about was trying to save my son. She suggested we consult a specialist.

Having seen two doctors who gave the same devastating recommendation of termination, my husband and I were skeptical about seeing yet another physician. But we did meet with Dr. Andrew Freedman, director of pediatric urology at the Endourology Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

He examined the sonogram pictures of our son's kidneys and calmly said, "This is hydronephrosis, not multicystic kidneys -- and I believe I can fix it." Because of a blockage, fluid was backing up into the kidneys, progressively damaging them. The worst-case scenario, Freedman said, was that the baby would need a transplant. In addition to a possible future of frequent dialysis and a lifelong daily intake of anti-rejection drugs, we were also enlightened to other birth defects that could occur to the face, feet and belly due to a malfunctioning kidney. How could we bring a child into the world with all these problems?

We were also advised by relatives, friends and professionals of the effect a sick child can have on the dynamics of a young family. Our daughter was only one. Would she resent a sibling that took all of our time, energy and attention? Would our marriage survive? All these 'what ifs' contributed to sleepless nights and countless heated discussions.

Somehow we made the decision of continuing on with the pregnancy.

When our baby was just four days old, Freedman successfully repaired the blockage, alleviating pressure on his right kidney. We were sent home with several medications to administer around the clock.

A short time later, it was discovered that the left kidney, already badly damaged, was no longer functioning. It was removed laparoscopically when he was 4 months old. He was released after 24 hours -- no medicine, no antibiotics. Just four tiny scars covered by cute, little animal-shaped bandages.

He is now a healthy, highly spirited five-year-old who has no memory of those early days, all because we got a third opinion.