FOR MONTHS, THIS MOTHER NEVER SAW HER BABY’S EYES — THEN CAME THE MOMENT SHE HAD BEEN WAITING FOR
When Zakary was born, his mother Valeka Riegel could barely see her newborn son’s face.
A rare condition called encephalocele had caused a large sac containing brain tissue to extend across much of his face, from his forehead toward his upper lip. The only part of his face Valeka could clearly see was his tiny mouth.
For a mother meeting her baby for the first time, not being able to see his eyes must have been incredibly difficult.
And yet, she stayed by his side.
From the very beginning, Zakary was cared for by a team of 22 specialists at Cincinnati Children’s. His first months of life were spent in the NICU, where doctors worked carefully to give him the best possible chance.
He remained there for more than four months.
Then came the operation his family had been waiting for.
Zakary underwent a nine-hour procedure in which surgeons removed the sac, repaired his skull and reconstructed parts of his face.
It was an incredibly complex procedure, but it carried something much more meaningful for his mother.
The possibility of finally seeing her baby’s face.
Finally seeing his eyes.
After months of uncertainty, Valeka could begin to see the little boy she had been holding and loving all along.
Zakary’s beginning was filled with medical challenges, but his story also became one of extraordinary teamwork, determination and a mother’s unwavering love for her child.
Sometimes, the most emotional moment isn’t a dramatic announcement.
Sometimes, it’s simply a mother finally looking into her baby’s eyes. ❤️
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