After meeting in college and getting married in 2006, Andrea West and her husband were eager to start a family. They were overjoyed when Andrea became pregnant, but she miscarried at 11 weeks of pregnancy. Unaware that one in four women lose a pregnancy, she blamed herself for the overwhelming grief.

Andrea regained her courage to try again with her husband’s encouragement. She adhered to all pregnancy guidelines because she was determined to do everything “right.” She was excited to become a “boy mom” when she found out she was expecting a boy.

Despite having very little amniotic fluid, Andrea naturally gave birth to her son, Adam, on September 21. However, the doctor quickly severed the cord after discovering that Adam’s leg was ailing, rather than the father doing so.

The baby was covered in bruises and red marks. Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita (CMTC), a rare vascular malformation with only 500 documented cases, was the diagnosis made by the doctors after he was swiftly transferred to the NICU.

Adam passed all of the initial brain and heart tests despite the diagnosis, and he was released shortly after. He saw several specialists in the first few weeks, but the majority of the results were normal. His parents started doing endless research on the illness.

To network with other CMTC families, they went to medical conferences, one of which was held in Washington, D.C. Andrea and her husband decided to spread the word about the condition because many of the doctors they encountered had never heard of it.

Whether Adam would blend in with his peers was their top worry. He is doing well now, playing sports, hanging out with friends, and keeping up with other children.

Adam is Andrea’s rainbow baby and the most gorgeous boy she has ever laid eyes on. He is a representation of optimism, fortitude, and the strength of unwavering love.