Mom Was Warned Her Baby May Not Survive, But She"s Beating The Odds

When Lydia Rankin was born, doctors did not expect her to survive more than a few weeks, especially since they hadn’t even expected her to make it through birth. However, both her doctors and her parents quickly realized that the little girl who had just entered their lives was a fighter who wasn’t going to give up easily. 

To learn more about Lydia’s journey and to find out how you can play a role in her future, check out the story below and don’t forget to SHARE it with others.

Everything Came To A Halt At 20 Weeks

Like any new parents, Ruth and Paul Rankin were probably excited when they discovered they were pregnant. They attended all of the necessary appointments and expected this pregnancy to be like any other: safe, happy, and healthy. However, during the 20-week scan, Ruth and Paul were told that their baby had a rare brain disorder. They were given the option to terminate the pregnancy but decided against it. Ruth said that after feeling her baby kick, she knew termination was not an option.

The First Diagnosis

The condition Lydia was diagnosed with is called alobar holoprosencephaly, which is caused when the two frontal lobes of the brain do not separate during development. This meant that even if she survived, Lydia would not be able to walk or talk.

The Second Diagnosis

On top of that, she was also diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which happens during the last few weeks of pregnancy and causes fluid buildup that expands the head. 

Even before she was born, this little girl had the entire deck stacked against her. I don’t think Ruth and Paul could have ever imagined what to expect once she came into the world.