National Birth Defect Awareness Month & Omphalocele Awareness Day

Today, I wear black and white.  And each January 31 for the rest of my life, I will wear black and white.  I do this because January 31 is Omphalocele Awareness Day.  Earlier this year, I shared our story about my daughter and the birth defect she was born with.  This is a story I am fiercely proud of.  I am proud that my sweet girl beat the odds.  I am proud that I am stronger than I ever thought I was before we went through Harper’s birth.  I am proud that we can serve as a resource and story of joy for other moms going through what I once went through.

January is also National Birth Defect Awareness Month.  When I first heard the words “birth defect”, I gasped thinking of the horrible complications that could accompany these terrifying words.  Today, these same words don’t seem so scary at all.  But more than that, hey connect me immediately to any other parent who has heard a doctor utter those words….birth defect.  So today, we are dipping back into our archives to share my family’s story and today we are celebrating with all of the parents and kids who are recognizing National Birth Defect Awareness Month.  If you have a story to share, please tell us a little about it in the comments.

O Mom

 

Brooke
Brooke graduated high school from right here in San Antonio. After twelve years of living everywhere from Colorado to Greece, London to Atlanta, she and her husband have made San Antonio home and have become parents to their daughter and son. Brooke loves finding undiscovered activities around the city and dragging her kids along! She is a runner, an amateur cook that loves trying out San Antonio’s growing culinary scene and is actively involved in non-profit organizations in San Antonio.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I too wear black and white today to acknowledge Omphalocele Awareness. As Brooke’s mother, and Harper’s grandmother, I have never been so afraid for my daughter and her tiny baby girl as I was those months leading up to Harper’s birth and those long months in the NICU.
    I have also never been so proud of my daughter. Brooke grew greatly in those months, and I was able to learn from my daughter and tiny grand daughter what courage and strength were, and what miracles really are.

    Our children never grow too old for their moms to worry about them and a mother’s love will be with her children forever.

    I love you sweet girl.!
    Mom

Comments are closed.