Heroes Who Inspire All of Us — #WhyWeRare

This little pediatric hero is Jackson! Jackson was born in March and was diagnosed before birth with, “ … a unique mutation on the COL1A1 gene which pointed to Osteogenesis Imperfecta” (www.andthestorybegins.com - Jackson’s mother’s blog). Osteogenesis Imperfecta are genetic disorders that mainly affect the bones making them more prone to fracture. OI occurs in approximately 1 in 20,000 individuals and can be diagnosed after the birth. Fast forward to Jackson’s birth - he was delivered by c-section and was reported to be stable and breathing well on oxygen. Jackson was a miracle baby… and delivered in the midst of a pandemic! A lot of faith and hope goes into pregnancy, especially when things don’t always go as planned. Abby and her family remained hopeful and took Jackson’s pediatric battle by storm. We are very thankful that Jackson was able to be delivered safely and is continuing to be a pediatric hero! We hope this story can inspire other moms experiencing pregnancy right now during CoVid as well as moms who may have pediatric battles. Fenrici is praying for the safety of our pediatric heroes, and we appreciate you! Thank you Abby for allowing us to share Jackson’s story. Read more stories like Jackson's at our Amazon Store Hero Page: https://amzn.to/31onwhm

Meet pediatric hero, Garrin! When Garrin was born, he spent five months in the NICU. Garrin was admitted to a Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in 2019. He had difficulty with his lungs and required breathing support and is still a patient at the Children’s Hospital now. Garrin has undergone tracheostomy, gastrostomy, and hernia repair. As well as having “...two diagnostic heart catheterization procedures, two CT scans, multiple bronchoscopies, and dozens of x-rays and lab draws” (nicumomlife.com). Our pediatric heroes go through things that some of us cannot even fathom. It takes an immense amount of bravery and perseverance for our child heroes as well as the families to battle these pediatric troubles. We want to focus on Garrin’s strength and still being here today to show his adorable smile! We are asking you all for your prayers as Garrin continues to fight! Please follow Garrin on his journey and stay updated with his posts as well as his mom, MJ’s, blog nicumomlife.com! Thank you MJ for allowing us to share Garrin’s story. We are praying for you! 😊💗

This is Penny! Penny is a pediatric hero with fibular hemimelia. Fibular hemimelia is a rare disorder that occurs in only 1 in 40,000 births where part or all of the fibular bone is missing. It was a difficult decision on what to do with Penny’s leg but the family ultimately decided to amputate it, “... to give her the best conditions to live a life without pain and limitations”, as told by Penny’s mom, Angelica. A brave and hard decision to make but Penny is sporting her cute and colorful cast with a smile on her face! Penny is able to engage in activities and continue on with her life without limitations! Penny meets with other kids who have had amputations and shows them that they have a friend in this. Our pediatric heroes show that despite a battle they may be fighting or have overcome, it doesn’t have to stop you from living your life and doing so with a smile! Thank you Penny and family for allowing us to share your great story and inspire others.