birth defect

Ten-year-old Emma Bennett was born with a rare birth defect, and as a consequence is missing her right leg. Although she wears a prosthetic leg and is as active as any other girl her age, participating in swimming, soccer, cheerleading and volleyball, she’s never owned a doll that fully represents who she is. Although Emma loves her American Girl collection, her parents recall hearing her bemoan the fact that none of the dolls really looked like her. 

A strange birth defect is on the rise in the United States, and scientists are at a loss to explain it.
Gastroschisis is a birth defect that causes a baby’s intestines to protrude outside of his/her body, through a hole in the abdominal wall beside the belly button. Sometimes this hole is very small, but it can also be quite large, and other organs such as the stomach and liver can extend from the baby’s body.