Parents’ Refusal: A Mother’s Heartbreak at the Dinner Table
Your first child is born is something that changes your life.
The love you feel for your child is like nothing else, and you can only hope that everything goes well with your little one.
When Sara Heller welcomed her first child into the world, Brody, a boy, it was a big relief for her, but also a lot of worry.
Sara and her husband Chris Eidam had discovered something about Brody when Sara was only 24 weeks pregnant.
Warning: Graphic Images
Sara’s Determination to Change Perspectives
Sara’s ultrasound showed that Brody had a special lip and a cleft palate. In some children, it’s a small hole in the lip, but in Brody’s case, the cleft extended from the lip to his nose.
Naturally, Brody’s parents were very worried when they saw the ultrasound images, but they decided to do something completely different after their son’s diagnosis.
The doctors said there were only 9 cases like Brody’s in the whole world.
“They asked us if we wanted to keep the baby,” dad Chris Eidam told Omaha News.
But Sara and Chris were determined to keep their baby.
Spreading Awareness and Facing Criticism
Sara says she wants to change the way people look at children with cleft palates.
It’s OK to be proud of your baby, no matter the circumstances. We wanted to change how pictures of newborns look on Facebook or Instagram. We wanted to change awareness around children with cleft palates and how people view them,” the mother told Today.com.
Children born with cleft palates often undergo multiple surgeries and treatments to learn to eat and speak.
Sara, who received insensitive messages on Instagram, aims to create a positive change for such physical defects.
A Heartwarming Gesture of Support
After everyone had finished eating at a dinner with Brody, a waitress handed Sara a surprise under a napkin – a check worth $1000 with a note ‘for your beautiful baby.’
“Tears streamed down my face and the happiness my heart felt is indescribable,” Sara said.
The unexpected gift helped Sara and Chris pay for some of Brody’s medical expenses, including his last surgery that repaired his lip.
Moving Forward with Gratitude
Brody is recovering well and still has more surgeries ahead. Thanks to experienced doctors and surgeons, Brody will be able to eat and speak later on. Sara and Chris are grateful for the support they received.
The generosity of strangers can make a profound impact on families like Brody’s. Let’s share this story as a reminder that every child deserves love, respect, and the best chances in life, regardless of appearance.
