Tiny fighter: Newborn defies odds with rare medical conditions
By Pari Apostolakos
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MONTZ, Louisiana (WDSU) — A newborn in Montz, Louisiana, defies medical odds and inspires her parents and community with her resilience despite being born with severe medical challenges.
Wren Roberts, now 3 weeks old, was not expected to survive, according to her parents, Savannah and Nick Roberts. Savannah said doctors told her during a 20-week pregnancy scan there were some serious medical conditions they found in her baby.
“They told us from the get-go, you know, she’s probably going to miscarry,” Nick said during an exclusive interview with WDSU reporter Pari Apostolakos at the couple’s home.
When that miscarriage didn’t happen, the couple learned of additional medical conditions. The couple said doctors told them Wren’s body was “not compatible with life.”
Then came the day she was born.
“We’d just push through and held on to God and prayed that he would at least give me an hour, or even a couple of minutes just to hear her cry. Because that’s all, at that point, that’s all I really wanted, was just to hear her cry,” Savannah said, cradling Wren in her arms. “And he gave me a lot longer than that. So, I’m very thankful for that.”
Savannah, a nurse, has made a career helping others heal.
“I struggled with that, and just knowing that I get to go care for other people, but I can’t take care of her and save her life, just like I would another patient, a random person,” she said.
Wren was born with conditions including spina bifida, club feet, her heart and some other organs on the opposite side of her body, with some, like her spleen, missing altogether.
Her parents said doctors consider her a medical marvel.
“Every doctor that sees her, they’re just, they laugh, you know, they just say this is unexplainable,” Nick said.
The Roberts family brought Wren home the day after she was born, believing her life would be short. But at 6 days old, they began to see signs that Wren wasn’t giving up.
“Everybody kept saying ‘Y’all were so strong,'” Savannah said. “But, honestly, sometimes I don’t. It’s not that I feel strong. It’s just, life has to go on, and you have to push through, and that’s what we did.”
The couple credits their community, family and faith for keeping them grounded throughout this challenging time.
“Since the 20-week scan, I had prepared myself to have a medically complex child, you know, and I got that,” Savannah said. “I know that she won’t be here forever, but I got what I wanted. He gave me exactly what I wanted.”
Nick added, “At first we started asking, why us? You know, why us? And it got to the point, it was like, why not us?”
“There’s nothing that I could have done differently or anything like that to make this not happen,” Savannah said. “So, I have to trust his plan and leave it in his hands.”
Savannah and Nick said neither they nor anyone in their families has any of Wren’s medical conditions. They are treating every day with their daughter as a blessing, not knowing how long they might have with her.
The couple hopes sharing Wren’s story will raise awareness about rare medical conditions and inspire hope. While online crowdfunding pages have been set up to support the family, Savannah and Nick said what they truly want are people’s prayers.
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