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During their final year of college, Andrea West met her future spouse. After graduating, they quickly fell in love and returned to Andreas’ hometown.
They got married after only a few short years, and soon after that they could tell their loved ones that Andrea was expecting their first child. Andrea was ecstatic.
But after just eleven weeks, the joy gave way to sorrow. Andrea lost the baby.
“I was an absolute wreck. I didn’t know what to do, who to talk to, what was appropriate to discuss, or who could help me. Little did I know that 1 in 4 women suffer the same and people just don’t talk about it. I didn’t know if I could ever deal with being pregnant again.”
Andrea’s anxiousness eventually subsided thanks to her understanding husband. Fortunately, she became pregnant once more. She vowed that this time, she would do everything in her power to ensure that her child grew up in good health. She gave up a variety of meals, such as sushi, cold-cut meats, and some cheeses.
Additionally, she started reading pregnancy literature nonstop in the hope that everything would be alright this time.
Sure enough, her time was completed without incident. Right on schedule, she went to the hospital with her partner and was admitted into a delivery room. She was ready to be sent home when an ultrasound revealed that she had almost little amniotic fluid remaining. They had to start labor induction right away.
The birth fortunately proceeded smoothly. By the end of the evening, Adam, a son, had been born to Andrea and her husband. However, Andrea’s partner was unable to perform the intended umbilical cord cutting.
Instead, a flurry of medical personnel quickly took Adam away from his parents. Andrea’s husband was able to see their son via the shoulders of some medical professionals. He turned back to Andrea and uttered the heartbreaking words: “Honey, there’s something wrong with Adam’s leg.”
Around little Adam, twenty people had gathered. The longer it went without a response, the more worried Andrea became. Andrea lay in the ward alone when her mother and partner went outside to tell her family what had happened. Even so, nobody explained to her what was wrong with her child. It became out that his entire right leg and the right side of his stomach were marbling purple and black.
After some time, Adam was identified as having CMTC, a vascular abnormality that is highly unusual. Andrea and her husband were unsure on how to respond. Only 500 cases of the illness have ever been reported worldwide at the time of their son’s birth.
Adam conducted numerous tests on his essential organs, all of which, thankfully, went off without a hitch. Andrea was in the NICU for so long that she didn’t get any sleep for four days.
In the end, Adam was given rigorous instructions on how to take care of his skin and was allowed to return home. But as time passed, it became increasingly clear that Adam was a true fighter.
He’s a cheerful, healthy child now who enjoys math and chess. While his illness causes his leg to be weak, he has even been able to participate in sports. Throughout it all, Adam has never perceived his impairment as a barrier, despite the fact that he is aware of his modest differences from the other kids.
Andrea West is still actively involved in CMTC Alliance, a worldwide nonprofit that supports people with uncommon vascular malformations. She works ardently to raise awareness of these issues and fights for people who are impacted.
Please think about sharing Adam’s story and making a donation if you’d like to help the organization and more people with rare diseases. Your support may have a significant impact on the lives of people dealing with rare diseases.
Even though Adam’s life may have had a difficult beginning, the West family is content right now.
