I was 17 when I found out I was pregnant. What a shock, and I was even more shocked to learn my baby had gastrochesis.

Brittany was born two weeks early on December 16, 1993, with a lot of her intestines outside her body. Those intestines were unable to be saved and were removed.

Brittany spent the next 14 months in Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth, Western Australia. She had several operations and had to learn to adapt to having very little bowel.

She is now a thriving 14-year-old and a joy to watch grow up into a beautiful young woman after the tough start in life she had. This is a story of hope to other parents with babies trying to overcome this disease.