Najera, Adriana

Opinion Editorial
Have you ever heard of something called gastroschisis that occurs only
in babies? Many people haven't heard of this term, but for some people, this
word flips their life around. Gastroschisis is a birth defect of the abdominal
wall of an infant that develops while the infant is in the womb. This defect
causes the infant's intestines to be exposed through a hole that is typically to
the right of the belly button.
According to the CDC, about 1,871 infants each year are born with
gastroschisis. Unfortunately, the cause of gastroschisis is still unknown, but
there is a solution to fix the defect. After the baby is born, surgery can be
performed to re-insert the intestines back into the baby's body.
A foundation named the Avery's Angels Gastroschisis Foundation is a
non-profit organization dedicated to research for gastroschisis and providing
support for families and raising awareness. This foundation depends on the
generous donations made by many people and the volunteers to continue
funding donations and supporting those families in need. My family has
experienced this with my now one-year-old nephew. It is a very difficult
situation to be in. Many families, like my own, are unaware of this foundation
but are grateful that there is a foundation specifically dedicated to
gastroschisis and are trying to find a cause for this defect. People can donate
to this foundation by searching for their website, www.averysangels.org.

Najera, Adriana

Facts about Gastroschisis. (2015, November 12). Retrieved December 02, 2016, from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/gastroschisis.html