“We had waited 10 weeks to see our beautiful baby on the ultrasound screen again. Do to an insurance issue preventing us from getting any scans between 20 and 30 weeks, naturally my anxiety was overwhelmingly high that morning of our 30-week scan, the morning our world was turned upside down.
The same technician from my previous scans greeted us with a smile and brought us to the ultrasound room. There was a lot of small talk, and then there was silence. After minutes of silence, I finally asked if everything was okay. She smiled, turned off the screen, and said she would be right back. I looked at my fiancé, Giovanni, and with tears in my eyes said, ‘I knew it.’ It was at this appointment when we were told our baby’s heart had severe defects. It was at this appointment when they told us he most likely would have some sort of syndrome, and we had ‘no choice’ but to continue with the pregnancy. I remember feeling angry at that, ‘no choice but to continue.’ As if they had already deemed his life to be unfit to continue if we were earlier on.

The next four and a half weeks went by in what seems like days. We had an amniocentesis performed that confirmed a syndrome, undiagnosable until birth. During that appointment the technician told us there was fluid surrounding his heart and there was a possibility he was already in complete heart failure. This was the first time the thought of losing him felt so real, and so close. I cried for days. My fiancé and I, both mourning in our own ways over the life we had so anxiously and joyfully been waiting to meet. ‘Complete heart failure.’ ‘You need to be prepared for anything.’
Were we going to lose him? And if not, what would life be like for him? Everyone was already speaking to us as if there was no cure for a heart defect and a ‘suspected syndrome.’
We followed up with a Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Eleanor Ross. Upon meeting her, we felt comforted, supported, and entirely understood. She was the first person to give us hope when it felt like everyone else was apologizing for a broken heart that didn’t even make it into the world yet. After another hour-long scan, she finally diagnosed his heart defects as Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV), Tetrology of Fallot (TOF), Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD – which means a hole in the heart), and Pulmonary Stenosis. Leaving that appointment, we felt two very different things: happy to have a diagnosis, and terrified of the future.

At 34 weeks, the baby stopped moving, and an hour before I was supposed to prep for the OR, a physician came to my room and told us the cardiology team at our hospital was not ready to deliver him. They feared he would be too small and with how complex his heart defect is, there wouldn’t be many options for them to surgically intervene and stabilize him. ‘He’s too small, there may be nothing they can do for him.’ The goal was to make it to 37 weeks… but our little guy had his own timeline.
Our sweet Sebastian arrived not even a week later, weighing in at 3 pounds, 14 ounces and 15 inches long, and ready to shake things up at the hospital! I heard three things when he was finally out: ‘He’s here!’ ‘He’s breathing,’ and, ‘He has a TON of hair!’ What a joyful moment. And I say moment – because the joy only lasted for that long. Within minutes they were inserting a breathing tube, and then after that, the cardiology team took him away while I recovered. We had no idea what the future looked like, and nothing could have prepared us for the trauma after trauma we lived for the next 100 days.

In those 100 days, he was intubated for 80 of them. In those 100 days, I got to hold him 29 times. In those 100 days, he didn’t move much or really open his eyes until the very end of his hospitalization. In those 100 days, we almost lost him twice. On top of Sebastian’s heart defect, we were told that he has encephalopathy, an incurable brain disease. Or if you ask certain specialists, they will tell you, ‘potential for no real quality of life.’ In those 100 days we received diagnosis after diagnosis, deeming him a life of minimal activity and awareness. But in those 100 days he showed us how to fight. He showed us how much our family needed him, needed strength, God, and each other.


During this hospital stay, we learned Sebastian had Cornelia de Lange syndrome. This rare syndrome affects 1 in 30,000 births and every child is different. He had his first heart surgery at 11 days old, followed by his second heart surgery at 2 months old. After 101 days, he was able to come home and recover while preparing for that third surgery which he had at 5 months old. He recovered from all of them very slowly, with multiple complications in between, yet so magnificently, too! Each surgery, and each week he made more and more progress.

This was a baby that 9 out of 10 physicians expected not to survive past one month. This was a baby who underwent 3 heart surgeries all under 6 pounds in weight. This was a baby who had a breathing tube doing all the work for him for more than 80 days of his life – nearly consecutively – and showed little to no signs of life until he was 3 months old.
This, is Sebastian.

His syndrome declares him deaf, possibly blind, with an inability to ever walk, or talk. That is the staple expectancy attached to this syndrome. But… I believe in my heart he will overcome and achieve ALL these things – in his own sweet timing. Just as it’s always been. I will never forget that day we received the diagnosis of his syndrome, though. One genetic specialist after another telling us all the things he would ‘never do’ – selling him so short. It felt like we received apology after apology for this diagnosis, with barely any sign of excitement that baby we had been anxiously waiting to meet was here! The thing is though, as thorough as these specialists were, they left out so many pieces of important information – everything he WOULD do!


They didn’t tell me his smile would light up any room. And that his personality would be so healing to anyone who gets to meet him, even strangers. He has a way of making people feel at peace. They didn’t tell me about all the knowledge I would acquire caring for him. And they definitely didn’t tell me that he would teach us everything we never knew we needed to learn; like patience, understanding, gratefulness, humbleness, inclusion, gratitude, selflessness, and to never ever take one single day for granted.

I used to be so angry, so full of grief and loss. The hardest part of all of this was learning how to grieve over this life we expected and felt like we lost, all while still being grateful for this beautiful life we were given. But since the very first day he was released from the hospital, he has done nothing but continue to prove to everyone how strong he is.

Sebastian turned one year old on October 3rd, 2018. He will have his fourth heart surgery sometime early 2019. Followed by eyelid surgery (he can only open one eye – this is a characteristic of his syndrome, a condition Called ‘ptsosis’ which means a weakening of the eyelid). He is a candidate for cochlear implants, which we will also try in hopes to give him some usable hearing, but as of now he is diagnosed deaf in both ears. He is strictly tube fed, but recently has started trying some puréed foods, and boy does he love the taste of real food, especially bananas! In regards to his brain disease, there is no treatment. Having encephalopathy means he will always be battling volume loss in his brain, and the ability to make new connections and development properly. This will affect seemingly every part of his milestone development, but we already know he has plans to prove everyone wrong, so we are not worried about that part.

Congenital Heart Defect, Encephalopathy, and Cornelia de Lange Syndrome will cause many challenges in his future. As much as I wish I could take away all the pain he has endured – the surgeries, the infections, every ‘close call,’ I still wouldn’t change WHO he is. He is a miracle, given to us. He is a fighter, a teacher, an inspiration, a pure joy to know. And he is ours.”


This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Stephanie George, 26, of New Lenox, Illinois.
I was schooled this past Friday night when my husband and I went to a benefit for Cool cars for kids in Philadelphia PA. We were invited to show my 1966 GTO Covertible. I thought my car was really special until I met this incredible young woman who has CDLS. My husband and I were truly humbled once we learned about this disease. The struggles and determination that is expected to fight this life changing disease takes an unbelievable amount of courage and love from the person who has it and the support they get from all others involved in their lives. We wish we had an unlimited amount of funds to contribute to the SIMEONE Foundation or any other foundation that supports CDLS. Our hearts will continue to pray for your child and all of those affected by CDLS.
My name is shanikka player
And I truly understand what you are going through my son was born with an cleft pallet and also has CDLS.
I just want to let you know.be very much encouraged keep your head up and stay strong
Stephanie and Gio, I first met your wonderful Sebastian about a week ago and it was love at first sight. I was scrolling through YouTube ate at night looking for something interesting to watch. Since then, I have watched every Sebastian video I can find. He is a bright dot in my day and he always makes me smile. He is a beautiful little soul and when he smiles, I smile. What a blessing you all are to each other! Please continue to make videos of your family. I pray that God will continue to bless all of you. I Iove your little boy!
I have son who has CDLS and is now 37 he lives with us, we first was told he probably wouldn’t be able to do anything, but I proved to the doctors I would love him like my two daughters and teach him everything I could, he loves music, folds clothes helps outside uses the microwave he does a lot God has blessed us , I prayed for God to heal him but my friend said God made him like this for a reason and it to bless people with his happiness and smile he is a light God made to shine he has health problems but we go with flow and keep on going
Thank you for sharing your story. Sebastians smile is truly magical. What an inspirational little boy. My sister has CdLS and has just had her 57th birthday. My parents were told she would never walk, talk. etc, etc. How wrong the doctors were. She loves music, baking, cuddling her babies (dolls!), crafts, the list is endless. She is funny, mischievous and loves telling funny stories. Our family has been blessed having Jayne in our lives.
My brother has CDLS and is almost 50 years old. He’s strong and healthy. Unfortunately when he was born there was very little information about this syndrome. Drs suggested he be placed in a training facility. He’s now living in a group home with for other special needs people. He’s happy and comfortable.
This was written with a mother’s heart. I am honored that I was accepted to follow Sebastian and his parents and family on Instagram. A beautiful son is a beautiful life!! I am an advocate for individuals with craniofacial differences, CDLS, dwarfism and Treacher Collins amongst others. All children are a kiss from God. Seeing Sebastian smile and laugh, wow, each new post of him is pure delight to my heart and my life.
Sebastian is adorable and both of you take such good care of him. Ignore the haters, they couldn’t make it thru a day of what you do. I took care of a boy who had shaken baby syndrome. I watched him 22 years.No one has a right to judge you. Most people couldn’t walk a day in your shoes. You have touched my heart with your
Little one! Thank you sharing. You deserve help and support, not judgement!
What a beautiful, precious child! God’s blessings on your sweet family.
I have a cousin who has Cornelia de Lange syndrome. She has been a sweet blessing to all who meet her!
Aww…how awesome it was to come across your story here while doing my due diligence in researching and trying to learn more about CdLS because I’ve always been one to gather as much information as possible about a syndrome or disability that I’m not familiar with…especially when it is in our family, friends’ lives or someone I care about (like Sebastian! He’s been my champ and inspiration for years). My heart is to be compassionate, understanding and as knowledgeable as possible because acknowledging that every life is different and appreciating the uniqueness of each individual helps me become a better advocate and vocal supporter to educate others. A diagnosis is not a death sentence. A doctor’s expectations is limitations. Sebastian’s life, development and progress can’t be measured by this world’s standards. He was created by God, is of God and will show God’s grace and wonder-working power with each moment of his life and with each milestone he achieves. I’m so honored to know his story and get to watch him grow and do all the things doctors said he’d never do 🙂