Zoe is a Miracle

by Dr. Annika Mandujano

My niece Zoe is a miracle. There’s just no way around that. After failed IVF attempts and a heartbreaking loss, my sister found out she was pregnant with Zoe. Shortly after she found out, she was told Zoe had a rare condition called hydrops fetalis that gave a very small chance of survival to term and even less after birth. Yet, from the very first visit I saw little Zoe move on that ultrasound I knew she was a fighter. She gets that from her mama. My sister has always been brave and adventurous, and she never backs down from a challenge.

Every challenge that Zoe has faced, even in my sister’s belly, Zoe has faced it head on and surpassed everybody’s limited expectations. Her tenacity is evident in everything she does. She has Down syndrome and Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder which means she has varying degrees of hearing impairment. None of this stops her from lighting up a room with one smile. She holds the hearts of her grandparents, her parents, her aunts, uncles, cousins and pretty much everyone who meets her. She LOVES Cocomelon almost as much as she loves her beautiful mama. She is learning to sign, along with the rest of the family. And we are looking forward to celebrating her second birthday next month!

As a physician and being a small part of this journey with my sister, I never realized just how much we can focus on what someone can’t or won’t be able to do. Zoe has taught me to see everything we can be, to believe in it, to have joy and celebrate it. I will never take that for granted. Today, I celebrate all the miracles in my life, specifically one named Zoe.

Have a story to share? We want to hear from you. Share your story on our simple form.