My New Granddaughter

I have a new granddaughter (my only grandchild) born on November 6, 2025. Her name is Charlotte, and she's beautiful and so, so sweet. I was very fortunate to have opted to retire before my teaching semester ended. I didn't have a good reason for it other than I wanted to be available when the baby was born. I was so glad that I did that, because Charlotte was born with unexpected birth defects. These defects are categorized as VACTREL association, something we'd never heard of before.

Charlotte was not born early. These defects were not visible on the multiple ultrasounds during my daughter-in-law's pregnancy. The only problem mentioned was that one of her kidneys appeared to be cystic. The umbilical cord had only one artery rather than two, but as this happens in approximately 1 in every 100 pregnancies, we were not particularly alarmed. It is unknown if that factor contributes to VACTERL.

This is what AI has to say about VACTERL Association: VACTERL association is a rare, non-random collection of congenital birth defects affecting multiple systems, defined by the presence of at least three of the following: Vertebral anomalies, Anal atresia, Cardiac defects, Tracheoesophageal fistula, Renal anomalies, and Limb abnormalities. (With 5 of the 7 abnormalities, Charlotte has vACTERAl.) Affecting 1 in 10,000 to 40,000 newborns, it is typically treated with surgery to correct structural defects, with a generally good prognosis depending on severity. 

When Charlotte was only 2 days old, she had her first surgery to reconnect her esophagus to her stomach and to perform a colostomy. Her trachea, which was connected to her lung, was also corrected with this surgery. She failed a later swallow study (she aspirated the liquid) and had to have a second surgery to insert a G-tube. Since then, my son and his wife have been injecting pumped breast milk directly into Charlotte's stomach by way of the G-tube.

After the G-tube was inserted, Charlotte was able to go home. She'd been in the NICU for four weeks. Around Christmas, she contracted COVID; but, fortunately, she got through that without any major difficulties. A week ago, another swallow test was performed. We had hopes she would pass it and be able to get rid of the G-tube and to nurse. But, again, the test showed the liquid going into her windpipe suggesting a possible problem with her epiglottis. (I'm not sure, but the surgeon may be taking at look at it next week during her third surgery.)

Next Wednesday, she is scheduled to have a PSARP, or posterior sagittal anorectoplasty, to create an anal opening and position the rectum. The surgeon will also do a scope to check out her epiglottis to see if they can see what's wrong. A few weeks after the surgery, her parents will have to perform uncomfortable dilations of her anus twice a day. They are not looking forward to that. Good thoughts and prayers are much appreciated.

A fourth surgery in several months will reverse the colostomy. Best case scenario will be that everything works properly and Charlotte has no major bathroom issues. Her cardiac and renal problems are, as far as we know, minimal/manageable.

As you can well imagine, this is A LOT for the new first-time parents. To have a child with one issue is hard enough, but to have five...it's crushing. At 12 weeks, Charlotte is smiling and beginning to reach for things and an absolute joy in our lives. We are so thankful to have here.

Because of my decision to retire at the end of October rather than to wait until the semester ended in mid-December, I was able to house and pet-sit for those four weeks Charlotte was in the NICU and my son and his wife were staying in the Ronald McDonald House across the street. (What a blessing that is! Put those coins in the depository when you get your Big Mac!)

January is VACTERL Association month, so I'm educating you just under the wire, which isn't too surprising to me since Charlotte's birth has thrown me into a state of pertetual catch-up. (I just took my Christmas tree down a few minutes ago!) Thank you for being interested and supportive.❤️