By Jessica Easthope
Gemma Dadone, 3, writhes in pain while getting her diaper changed. Both of her femurs are broken.
In nearly four short years of life, Gemma’s become no stranger to broken bones. She’s had more than 30 hairline fractures. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) causes her to have a collagen deficiency; her bones are very brittle.
“It takes her so much more effort than the average child. She has to take breaks. She has to lay back because her lung capacity is smaller than a regular child.”
Gemma’s mom Christine Darby knew life having a child with OI wouldn’t be easy, yet life without Gemma would be much harder.
“I heard her heartbeat, I felt her kicking and she was a part of me, and I felt that she deserved a chance at life, and a chance to grow and have a quality of life,” Christine said. “She’s going to be someone in the world and I’m happy that she has the chance to make a change.”
It was at the 13-week mark when Christine’s doctors noticed some bowing in Gemma’s legs on a sonogram. They immediately suggested she terminate her pregnancy. Gemma’s condition and the pressure to abort only got worse from there.
“Every Monday morning, they would call and they would say are you sure, are you sure, and I would say ‘yes I’m sure,’” Christine said. “They told me at one point why have a baby shower, what am I gonna do with all the stuff?”
“When they started calling Christine at 7 a.m. Monday morning, that they don’t think she should continue with her pregnancy, the trauma really started there, not a great way to start your week,” said Peter Dadone, Gemma’s father. “It was hard.”
But abortion was never on the table for the couple. Gemma’s cognitive ability is unaffected. Christine knew what she had to do as a Catholic and as Gemma’s mom, and she hasn’t looked back, even during the darkest of days.
“I felt such a strong connection to her, and I knew that I could not have an abortion,” Christine said. “I just felt that she was mine and I was meant to be her mom. Everyone deserves a chance at life, no matter the circumstance. Just look at her, they deserve a chance to see.”
Today Gemma is thriving. She goes to school, has friends, and dreams of growing up to teach doctors about the amazing potential babies with OI have, the potential every baby has.
“I’m so proud of how far she’s come,” Peter said. “Just in the last 2 years it’s been to the moon with her improvements.”
The next hurdle is saving up for an accessible home and car, to accommodate a power chair.
Gemma’s life will never be without challenges, but Christine says the best part is she’s here to conquer them.
A caring friend set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise money for the family to buy Gemma a specialized wheelchair. If you’d like to help donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gemmas-life-with-oi