When parents are expecting a new baby, they have a whole lot to look forward to. At the same time, they have a whole lot to worry about as well. I mean everything from the pregnancy, to the birthing process to taking the baby home. You have to be prepared for the unexpected.
But when the unexpected does come, it’s always important to remember that you have to be strong and be positive, as hard as that may seem at the time. Most parents hope and pray that their babies will be born without any health problems. But one couple was pretty nervous with the arrival of their new baby.
Their baby boy, Brody, was born different but they had no idea the extent of his difference until he actually came into the world. At their 24-week ultrasound, doctor’s found that Brody had a bilateral cleft lip and palate.
Doctor’s told the parents that the baby would be born with this deformation and would probably have to deal with other health problems that came with it. They even asked the couple if they wanted to keep the baby and if they wished to consider other options.
But considering other options did not cross the couple’s mind. They knew that they wanted to keep the child, regardless how different he looked. As far as other health problems, the young couple was prepared to provide any medical help that the baby may need.
This couple was determined to change how society sees babies that are born with deformities and various birth defects. They thought it was important to show that kids deserve to be loved and accepted, regardless how they look or what health issues they are born with. They had NO hesitation to keep their baby.
Brody’s mother, Sara, said on social media, “It is OK to be proud of your baby no matter the circumstances. We wanted to change what ultrasound/newborn/first-year pictures on our Facebook/Instagram accounts looked like. We wanted to spread awareness of cleft lips and palates”.
Cleft lips and palates are a pretty common birth defect that happens when certain tissues don’t come together. It can make it difficult for the baby to eat, to drink, to smile and even breathe. If it’s not fixed by surgery, the baby won’t be able to speak as they get older.
This can obviously play a huge role in preventing the child from living a normal, happy life. Most parents go with the surgery to correct the clefts and help their babies live the most normal life possible. The couple was so proud of their baby boy and shared photos of their newborn on their social media pages, regardless of how he looked.
Though there were a few negative comments on their beautiful baby boy, people generally were so supportive and loving of the child. Sara and her husband Chris decided to use their social media platform to educate people. Last year, Brody went through lip repair surgery. He is recovering and will likely have several other surgeries in the future.
Sara noted on social media, “This experience has shown us just how strong the cleft community is. We’ve been contacted by people all over the country. They are praying for us and asking us to reach out if we need anything”.
