Layla Kay Bratcher was born at 36 weeks and 6 days on August 21st via c-section in Minneapolis, MN. She was 6 lbs,15.5 oz and 19 inches long. After a complicated pregnancy and doctors constantly misdiagnosing, we finally got reliable information from maternal fetal medicine at U of M Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis. It was not the answer we were looking for, but it was an answer. She was diagnosed with an extremely rare disorder known as VACTERL with the odds of 1 in 10,000-45,000. 

V is for vertebral. Layla has vertebral anomalies that will be addressed at 3 months. It is not urgent at this time as she can kick her legs and is moving just fine. 
A is for imperforate anus. Layla was born with an anal fistula and is currently stooling out of this hole rather than a normal rectum. At 2 months, Layla will have surgery to re-route her bowels to where her anus should be. 
C is for cardiac. Layla’s heart is completely on the right side of her body although it is structurally normal. She has been having runs of SVT where her heart rate jumps up to 270-280. She is on Propranolol and this has been managing the SVT well. She will continue to be on propranolol long term with hopes of outgrowing the condition by age one.
T & E is for tracheoesophageal fistula. Layla required immediate intubation upon delivery as her trachea was not connected and there was a gap separating it in two. Her esophagus was not attached to her stomach, so at just 72 hours old, Layla had surgery to correct these malformations. The surgeon was able to connect her trachea and attach her esophagus to her stomach. She will have at least three dilations for her trachea to make sure it stays open. 
R is for renal. Layla has a right and left kidney. However, they did not ever separate from each other so they are connected to one another at the bottom making a horseshoe shape. They are both functioning and she is urinating without issue. Nephrology will assess this at 2-3 months. 
L is for limb abnormalities of which I am happy to say Layla does not have any.

Because having VACTERL isn’t enough on its own, Layla also has severe tracheomalacia where her airway collapses when trying to exhale. Therefore, she has been intubated on a breathing machine all but two days of her life and will remain intubated until they can figure out the best treatment plan for the tracheomalacia.

She also had a narrowing in her bronchiole causing hyperinflation of her left upper lung. She was able to move air into the lung, but not out. This lead to a lobectomy of her upper left lobe. 
She has an NG tube and is receiving my breast milk through this and she is gaining weight, currently 9 lbs.13 oz. Thank you all so much for the love support!!