Andrea West and her husband met in college, married in 2006, and looked forward to building a family. When Andrea became pregnant, their joy was immense — until she suffered a miscarriage at just 11 weeks. The grief was overwhelming, and she blamed herself, unaware that one in four women experience pregnancy loss.
With her husband’s support, Andrea found the courage to try again. Determined to do everything “right,” she followed every pregnancy guideline. When she learned she was expecting a boy, she was thrilled to become a “boy mom.”
On September 21, Andrea gave birth to her son, Adam, naturally, despite having very little amniotic fluid. But instead of the father cutting the cord, the doctor did so urgently, revealing something was wrong with Adam’s leg.
The newborn was covered in red markings and bruises. He was quickly taken to the NICU, where doctors diagnosed him with Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita (CMTC), a rare vascular malformation with only about 500 documented cases.
Despite the diagnosis, Adam passed all initial heart and brain tests and was soon discharged. In his first weeks, he saw multiple specialists, yet most results came back normal. His parents began researching the condition tirelessly.
They attended medical conferences, including one in Washington D.C., to connect with other CMTC families. Many doctors they met had never encountered the condition, so Andrea and her husband made it their mission to raise awareness.
Their main concern was whether Adam would fit in with his peers. Today, he thrives — playing sports, enjoying time with friends, and keeping pace with other kids.
To Andrea, Adam is her rainbow baby and the most beautiful boy she has ever seen — a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of unconditional love.
