06/17/2026
Meet Willow!
When Willow’s parents learned during a 33-week growth scan that their daughter had Apert syndrome, their world changed instantly. Apert syndrome affects the skull, face, hands and feet. It is a genetic syndrome, which is due to a mutation on the FGFR2 gene.
Doctors warned them that the chances of stillbirth were extremely high. Looking for answers, they asked to be transferred to Nationwide Children's.
The night before her scheduled induction, Willow’s mom went into labor more than two hours away from Columbus.
After Willow was born, she was transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital - Toledo, where teams in Toledo and Columbus worked together to provide specialized care. After 14 days in the NICU, Willow was finally able to go home.
“Walking into the unknown was terrifying,” her family says. “They made us feel at home, explained things in ways we could understand and helped us keep hope and faith.”
Now 2 years old, Willow is preparing for her fifth surgery. She loves singing and dancing to nursery rhymes, playing outside with her siblings and helping her care team “type notes” during appointments. Courageous, feisty and full of joy, Willow is also working on potty training and getting ready for preschool, milestones her family once feared they may never see.
