Willow’s Story

O Warrior Stories

Written by: Brandi Smith

I’ll never forget my 20 week anatomy scan phone call. I was called into my OB office to have my ultrasound reviewed with me. They couldn’t tell me anything over the phone and I was having to wait 4 whole hours to go in. 

I get there and my doctor cuts right to the chase: your baby has a rare stomach condition, called an Omphalocele. 

Fast forward past all the scary doctor appointments, having to travel an hour away from home each week, not knowing what to expect from here on out…our girl came on April 6th, at 30 weeks and 5 days (due to preeclampsia). Her Omphalocele contains partial liver and bowel. 

Our warrior is still in the NICU. She’s been on Cpap, then weaned down too fast, and back to Cpap due to a new diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. 

She’s being treated and doing very well. 

She weighed 2 lbs and 12.7 oz at birth, and she is now 10 lbs! 

Her time frame is back and forth, but the goal is to be home by Christmas 2024! She’s definitely a fighter and our biggest blessing!!