Abigail's Journey: "Family and Faith in Raising a Child with 22q Duplication"

By Adriana Stallard

"Abigail's Journey" is a touching and inspiring story that goes into the quiet moments of our lives when the world seems to slow down, leaving us alone with our thoughts. In this personal story, we follow the journey of Abigail, a young girl whose life takes an unexpected turn when she is diagnosed with 22q duplication, a genetic condition that

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee's Press and Publishing Co, LLC
• Release date: Apr 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9781964234083

Book preview

Prologue

In the quiet moments, when the world seems to slow down, and we're left alone with our thoughts, my mind often goes back to when our lives took an unexpected turn. It was a diagnosis that would change our journey as parents and try our faith. This is the story of our daughter Abigail and her fighting spirit.

As parents, our dreams are painted in vibrant hues of laughter, milestones, and boundless possibilities. We eagerly anticipate each new chapter in our daughter's life, hoping her journey will be straightforward. But life had different plans for us. The moment the doctor uttered those two words, 22q duplication, our world shifted on its axis, and a cascade of emotions engulfed us: confusion, fear, and a sense of being adrift in an uncharted sea.

The following journey was marked by uncertainty and countless questions. What lay ahead for our precious child? How can we navigate the complexities of a genetic condition we barely understand? Our hearts are heavy, yet as parents, we know we have a role to play, defined not by the obstacles ahead but by our unwavering determination to provide the best possible life for our daughter.

In the darkness, we find strength in our faith. We believe in God, who has a purpose for every twist and turn and is our guiding light. Faith has enabled us to take each step forward, even when the challenges seem unending. Through countless doctor's appointments, therapies, and sleepless nights, our faith has grown, intertwined with the resilience of our daughter, who has faced every hurdle with a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts and a fighting spirit.

This prologue is a glimpse into our current journey of love and sacrifice. In the following few chapters, we invite you to join us as we share the moments that defined us, the lessons we learned, and the miracles we have seen. It is a story of how a family has confronted adversity head-on, armed with medical knowledge and steadfast trust in God's plan. Through it all, we have discovered that while 22q duplication has changed our lives, it could never extinguish the light of hope burning within us.

As we take you on this journey through the chapters of this book, we invite you to walk beside us and witness the raw emotions, the milestones, the miracles, and the enduring faith that has carried us through. This is the story of our daughter, of us as parents, and of love and faith woven together.

CHAPTER 1

From Cartagena to Front Royal: A Journey of Beginnings

As I sit down to write the story of our daughter Abigail, I'm reminiscing about my childhood. I, Adriana, was born on June 1, 1995, in Cartagena, Colombia, to Clara Agamez and Jorge Otalora.

At six years old, my parents, my younger brother Sergio, and I moved to the United States of America. Florida became our new home, where the sunsets painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. The years passed quickly, and I graduated in May 2014 from Winter Springs High School in Winter Springs, Florida. A new chapter began for me after graduating.

With its rolling hills and history-soaked cities, I moved to Virginia a few months after graduation to attend Roanoke College in Salem. Between college classes and hanging out with friends, on September 7, 2016, I stumbled upon the dating profile of a man who would later become my husband. With his beautiful eyes and sweet smile, Devin Stallard sparked conversations that captured my heart. Three days later, we met for the first time in person at an IHOP in Ashburn for breakfast.

On a chilly summer night in August 2017, after spending the day running errands together, he told me he wanted to take me on a nice date. He surprised me by taking me to Olive Garden. After dinner, he took me to an empty parking lot. I remember the moon looking so bright that night. As I stared at the moon for a few seconds, he got on