Day 21: Finley

Just look at this little sweet pea...

.... they just don't get any cuter than this.

This is Finley.  She will turn three months old on June 16th.  She is one of my best friend's niece.

Her parents, Chad and Melissa have been on a roller coaster ride from the time of a third trimester ultrasound which revealed that baby Finley could have something wrong with her growth.  Her ultrasound showed that her limbs were behind in growth.  The doctors thought that she might have downs syndrome or dwarfism.  They wouldn't know until she was born what her condition would be.  The last weeks of what should have been so joyous for Melissa, I am sure, were filled with worry and fear....

Sweet Finley arrived weeks later; healthy and perfect.  She did not appear to have downs syndrome and she looked great other than her head being a little large.  An ultrasound of her head showed that everything was healthy.  She went home and Melissa and Chad sighed a breath of relief until recently Finley was having trouble growing. They began noticing some physical signs of dwarfism.  An x-ray revealed that Finley has Achodronplasia which is a form of dwarfism.  She had genetic testing which will tell the severity of her condition.  Right now her parents have to wait 4 to 6 weeks for results.

 My heart goes out to Melissa and Chad.  I know that waiting on genetic testing is hard.... Hearing that your child has an unexpected and rare condition is harder.  No parents want to think about your child facing adversity.

My heart also rejoices for Melissa and Chad.  They have a beautiful and truly adorable little girl.  She is perfect and through Finley, they will find a beautiful meaning to life and know what perfect love is.

Today I pray for Finley.  I pray that her test results will be better than expected and that her condition does not hold her back from doing anything.  I pray for health and miracles of growth in her bones.