In the beginning....

This blog is written about our daughter, Evangeline Grace. I knew early on that if I was expecting a little girl, her name would be Evangeline. I chose that name because "Evangeline" means "good news" and our little baby was a complete surprise...but a good one! The initial happy news of her arrival however, has been meet with less pleasant tidings as my pregnancy continued. At 17 weeks-the same wonderful day the doctor told me I was expecting a daughter- I found out she had spina bifida. I write this blog for each and every family who finds themselves in my position. Also, I hope it serves as information for others who might be curious about spina bifida and the lives it effects.

For any reading this who have just found out their baby has been diagnosed with a neural tube defect, I will share what I have learned while walking in your shoes.

It is your physician's job to prepare your family for the hardships in the future, but only YOU can prepare your family for the best. Your doctor may not give you hope, but that does not mean that hope does not exist. The baby growing inside you is still yours and if she has your love, you will be AMAZED by what she can do. When a child has love, he has the biggest need in his life fully met. When he is surrounded by people who look for the positive and who smile when he smiles, that child owns the world. He is greater than a king. The "quality of life" issues that you hear so much about on many forums have less to do with the "defect" in the child and more to do with how his parents VIEW his "defects". If you love your baby, if you are unafraid to love him/her, then you will find a miracle. Mother Teresa said "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." Well, I love until I hurt at the thought of Evangeline's struggles, but I know in my heart I will rejoice all the more with her when she overcomes and find success. Her spina bifida will not make her slobbery baby kisses any less sweet or her cubby cheeks less soft and caressable. It will make her every victory more of a celebration. What follows are the first stumbling steps on my journey to those little miracles. I do not know exactly what the future holds, but I know what I am bringing with me as I travel down the path to meet it....I bring hope for the best, faith in God and love for my daughter. I'd say that makes me as equipped as I know how to be.