January has never been just another month on the calendar for our family. While many people see it as a fresh start to a new year, for us it carries a deeper, more emotional meaning. January is VACTERL and Birth Defect Awareness Month—a time that asks us to pause, reflect, and speak up. It is a month dedicated to honoring our son, Geo, and to standing alongside families who walk a path similar to ours, often unseen and unheard.
Each year, this month reminds me why sharing our story matters. Why advocacy matters. Why rare conditions should never be allowed to fade into silence. To some, VACTERL is simply a difficult acronym. To us, it represents a lifetime of challenges, courage, resilience, and hope woven together through love.
When Geo was born, our world shifted instantly. The joy of finally holding him was mixed with a fear no parent expects to feel in those first moments. Questions crowded our minds—questions about survival, quality of life, and a future that suddenly felt uncertain. We did not yet know the full scope of what lay ahead, only that our child’s journey would not be simple.
VACTERL association is complex and often misunderstood. The acronym stands for Vertebral, Anal, Cardiac, Tracheo-Esophageal, Renal, and Limb anomalies. A diagnosis requires at least three of these systems to be affected. Behind those letters are real children, real families, and real lives forever changed.
For Geo, the challenges were immediate. His spine showed vertebral abnormalities. His heart carried serious congenital defects. His kidneys required close monitoring. His limbs developed differently, shaping how he would move, play, and grow. Each diagnosis felt like another wave crashing over us before we had time to steady our footing.
Life quickly became a blend of wonder and worry. Feeding schedules were complicated by medical needs. Doctor visits became routine. Surgeries entered our lives almost as naturally as diaper changes. Every milestone required planning, preparation, and prayers whispered in hospital hallways long after appointments ended.
Those early weeks were some of the hardest moments I have ever known. Watching a newborn struggle with things other babies did effortlessly was heartbreaking. His tiny body carried burdens too heavy for such a small soul, and yet, from the very beginning, Geo showed us what true strength looks like.
He fought for every breath. Every meal. Every moment of comfort. His resilience was both inspiring and terrifying, because loving him so deeply meant knowing how fragile life could be. Courage, we learned, is not loud or dramatic. Sometimes it is quiet, steady, and found in a baby who refuses to give up.
Surgeries soon became a regular part of our lives. Cardiac procedures, spinal evaluations, kidney assessments, and limb-related interventions followed one another, each carrying risks we barely understood at the time. Even the most routine medical appointments filled us with anxiety. Waiting rooms became places of prayer, patience, and silent hope.
Through it all, love surrounded Geo. Family and friends stood beside us. Nurses and doctors became trusted companions. Other parents in hospital corridors offered knowing glances that spoke volumes. Our community became our backbone, holding us up when exhaustion threatened to pull us under.
VACTERL is rare, affecting a small percentage of live births, and its cause remains unknown. That uncertainty adds another layer of complexity. Every explanation from a specialist brings a mix of dread and gratitude—fear of what could go wrong, and thankfulness for the expertise guiding our son’s care.
Geo’s vertebral anomalies required constant monitoring. His body could not be treated like that of a typical child; even small changes mattered. His heart conditions demanded vigilance, reminding us with every beat how fragility and strength can coexist. Renal concerns added daily routines of medication, tests, and careful hydration that became second nature.
His limb differences shaped both his physical abilities and emotional world. Prosthetics, physical therapy, and occupational therapy became tools not just for mobility, but for independence and self-expression. These were not limitations—they were pathways forward.
Despite everything, Geo’s personality shines brightly. His laughter fills hospital hallways. His curiosity turns therapy sessions into adventures. His mischief reminds us that joy is possible even in uncertainty. He is not defined by his diagnoses. He is a child first—full of life, wonder, and determination.
One of the hardest parts of this journey is explaining his condition to him. How do you tell a child that his body works differently without making him feel broken? We choose honesty wrapped in love. We talk about strength, adaptability, and believing in oneself. We remind him that differences do not diminish worth.
Advocacy has become part of our daily lives. Sharing Geo’s story is not about seeking sympathy. It is about education, awareness, and ensuring families have access to resources, research, and support. Awareness opens doors. It saves time, reduces isolation, and improves outcomes.
When people ask how we manage, the answer is simple but never easy: hope, faith, and community. We celebrate every small victory—a successful surgery, a new milestone, a pain-free morning. These moments are not small to us; they are monumental.
Hospitals have become second homes. Medical teams feel like extended family. Each day brings lessons in patience, courage, and gratitude that we carry with us far beyond hospital walls. VACTERL requires more than medical treatment—it demands coordination, advocacy, and relentless perseverance.
As Geo grows, the challenges evolve. What once meant survival now includes mobility, education, and social belonging. Yet time and again, he exceeds expectations. Every step, every word, every achievement is a testament to his strength and the dedication surrounding him.
January reminds us why awareness matters. It is not just a month—it is a mission. A call to support families, push for research, and create a world where children like Geo can thrive.
For parents on a similar path, know this: you are not alone. The journey is demanding, but love, knowledge, and resilience light the way forward.
Geo teaches us daily that strength is not the absence of struggle, but the courage to continue despite it. Our story is still unfolding, filled with challenges and victories yet to come. And through it all, we will continue to advocate, share, and hope—because VACTERL may be rare, but the courage it inspires is universal.