We hope to see you at 2:00pm EST on Sunday, June 2nd for our monthly support group! Please join us as we host four moms, each of whom has a child born with an omphalocele. Their babies range in age from 5 months to 1 year, and are doing amazingly well! All four moms are eager to share the stories of their O babies, especially with newly diagnosed families and families who are still early in their O journey. As always, everyone from the omphalocele community is welcome (parents of new O babies, experienced parents with older O children, pregnant mothers or expectant family members, grandparents, friends, adult omphalocele survivors) and you are all an important part of our group!
Panelists
Corin
Corin has been a full-time stay at home mom since her son Granger came home from the NICU. She was a sonographer (ultrasound tech) prior and actually found her son's large O while doing a scan. Granger was Corin's IVF miracle and born at 36 weeks with a large O containing liver and bowel, delviered early due to mom’s complications. Granger spent 117 days in the NICU which included a bowel obstruction resulting in surgery and partial repair. He is tiny but mighty, having a G-tube that he recently stopped using. Granger is now one and all boy, loves anything trucks and outdoors, climbing, and running. He didn’t let anyone stop him.
Ashleigh
Ashleigh is an elementary school teacher who lives in Newfoundland, Canada. Before finding out about her baby’s omphalocele at her 20 week ultrasound, she had never heard the word. Her baby girl, Audrey, arrived at 35 weeks via C-Section when Ashleigh's water broke. Audrey’s O container whole liver, partial stomach, and partial bowel. Audrey was fortunate to have an isolated O. Her surgeon performed the silo method for closure and she was fully repaired on day 8 of life. Audrey spent 67 days in the NICU recovering from surgery and working on feeding. She went home with an NG feeding tube. She is now 10 months old and weaning off her feeding tube slowly. Audrey is a very happy little girl who smiles at everyone and loves to have books read to her.
Christina
Christina is a sales director for a custom apparel and promotional products decorator. She lives in western Massachusetts with her husband Ryan and her O baby Elliott, who was diagnosed with an omphalocele containing his liver and part of his stomach around 12 weeks gestation. He was born full term via a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks. Elliott spent 26 days in the nicu to work on feeding and building up the stamina to tolerate full feeds. He is currently 5 months old and his surgical team hopes to complete a full repair around his first birthday. He is the sweetest, happiest, most lovable boy. He is very alert and loves to be outside!
Haley
Haley is a middle school math teacher who is used to embracing life’s daily chaos. She lives in a small town in Virginia with her husband, Caleb, and her O baby, Miller. Haley found out about a possible birth defect at 10 weeks gestation, and was given a confirmation diagnoses of an omphalocele at 13 weeks. She spent months educating herself, and educating her family and friends, on what was to come from her baby's diagnoses. Miller’s giant O was isolated and contained liver, gallbladder, and bowels. “Millie” was born full term at 39 weeks via C-section and thrived from that day on. She spent 9 days in the NICU and was sent home following the paint and wait method. Millie had full closure surgery at VCU Children’s Hospital in late February 2024, and now at 10 months old you would never know the road she endured to get where she is. She is always happy, always talking, and always on the move!
