As Christmas approaches, I’m reminded of how lucky we are. This year marks Merida’s 10th Christmas — something that once felt uncertain. During my pregnancy, her ultrasound suggested mermaid syndrome and a very small chance of survival. We were scared, but we chose to continue, believing every life deserves a chance.

When she was born, the diagnosis shifted to clubbed feet, arthrogryposis, and scoliosis. She endured countless tests and spent 20 days in the NICU. That first year was a blur of appointments and quiet moments together. It also revealed who in our lives stayed close and who quietly stepped away when faced with disability.