Mom Overcomes Loss and Fear to Welcome Son With Rare Condition: “He’s My Fighter”
Andrea West met her future husband during their final year of college. The two quickly fell in love, and after graduating, they moved back to Andrea’s hometown to start a life together. Not long after getting engaged, Andrea found out she was pregnant with their first child — and she was over the moon.
But just eleven weeks into the pregnancy, Andrea suffered a miscarriage.
“I was an absolute wreck,” she wrote on the Love What Matters Facebook page. “I didn’t know who to talk to or what was okay to say. I didn’t realize how common it was — that 1 in 4 women go through this, and hardly anyone talks about it.”
In time, with the support of her husband, Andrea found the courage to try again. When she became pregnant a second time, she was determined to do everything right — avoiding risky foods, reading every pregnancy book she could find, and preparing for a healthy birth.
Everything went smoothly until labor day.
She arrived at the hospital with early contractions and was nearly sent home — until an ultrasound revealed dangerously low amniotic fluid. Doctors induced labor immediately.
That night, Andrea gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Adam. But her husband never got to cut the umbilical cord. Instead, Adam was rushed away by doctors in a blur of confusion. Her husband caught a quick glimpse of their baby and said the words no new mother wants to hear:
“Honey, there’s something wrong with Adam’s leg.”
Medical staff swarmed around the newborn while Andrea waited, terrified and in the dark. When her husband and mom stepped out to update the family, Andrea lay alone, still not knowing what was happening.
Eventually, she learned the truth: the right side of Adam’s abdomen and his entire right leg were covered in deep purple and black markings.
Doctors diagnosed Adam with Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita (CMTC) — an extremely rare vascular condition. At the time, only about 500 cases had ever been reported worldwide.
Adam went through multiple tests to make sure his organs were healthy, and thankfully, everything came back clear. Andrea stayed by his side in the NICU for days without sleep. Finally, they were allowed to bring him home, along with a long list of instructions on how to care for his sensitive skin.
Over time, it became clear that Adam was a fighter. Today, he’s a thriving young boy who loves math, chess, and even sports — though his condition sometimes makes one of his legs weak. Still, Adam doesn’t let that slow him down. He knows he’s a little different, but he’s never let it hold him back.
Andrea now works with the CMTC Alliance, a nonprofit supporting people with rare vascular malformations. She continues to raise awareness, share Adam’s story, and fight for others facing similar challenges.
If you’d like to support families like Andrea’s, consider donating to the CMTC Alliance or sharing Adam’s inspiring journey. Every bit of support can help bring hope to those living with rare conditions.
