Ethan finally looked at his wife.
His eyes were wet.
“I’m sorry.”
“Give her to me.”
“Vanessa—”
“Give me the baby.”
Instead, he placed her in my arms.
I was still shaking from delivery.
Now I was shaking for an entirely different reason.
“What happened?”
Ethan pointed.
“Look at her back.”
I turned the baby carefully.
At the base of her spine was a small raised reddish area.
Covered with skin.
Not enormous.
But noticeable once I knew where to look.
Vanessa saw it.
Her expression collapsed.
“What is that?”
The nurse immediately called for the neonatal team.
Nobody in that room gave us a diagnosis based only on appearance.
But within hours, after imaging and consultations, a specialist explained that the baby appeared to have a form of spina bifida that would require further evaluation and likely surgical treatment.
