Who is Baby Adam?

 Baby Adam Update - Spring 2013   

Dear Baby Adam Supporters,

I wanted to take a minute to give you an update about Baby Adam.  As you’ll remember, Adam was born in India and has Bartsocas Papas Syndrome, which has resulted in a combination of facial, hand and lower extremity anomalies, and problems with his GI tract and urinary system.   Adam was adopted by Raja and Jessica Paulraj, who were working at the hospital where he was born, and could not bear to see him abandoned.  In the family’s search for a way to help Baby Adam, they contacted physicians at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and arrangements were made for Adam and family to come to Chapel Hill. In November 2011, Baby Adam came to UNC to receive evaluation and treatment.  The generosity of many individuals like you made Adam’s surgical care possible.

In late 2011 and early 2012, Baby Adam required multiple surgical procedures, including upper eyelid reconstruction, a left corneal transplantation, and repair of a central facial cleft. He also required a tracheostomy in order to breathe.  Because of problems with his GI tract, he needed a colostomy (an opening of the GI tract onto his abdominal wall); because Adam didn’t have fully developed legs, he needed procedures to remove excess tissue so he could eventually wear prostheses.  Adam has no hands.

In May 2012, Baby Adam and his family returned to India. Since then, in regular updates, the family has shared how Adam continues to do well. Some of you will remember hearing that Adam developed a driving curiosity to see his shadow. Even during the day, Jessica and Raja use a flashlight for Adam to see his created shadow.  Adam has started learning sign language and loves playing peekaboo using his bib to hide. Adam is quite mobile and crawls everywhere. He surprises his family each day with what he does and with his love for them.

Baby Adam and his family will be returning to UNC in June 2013 and we need your help--again. Multiple specialists will be evaluating Baby Adam including Pulmonologists, Geneticists, Pediatricians, Pediatric Surgeons, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons and Craniofacial Surgeons.   

The next set of surgeries that Baby Adam needs include palate repair, possible eye surgery, and surgical modification of his tracheostomy.

Please consider giving to the Baby Adam Fund at http://medicalfoundationofnc.org/givebabyadam.

Adam’s mother also writes regular updates about Adam and the family’s life in India, including pictures and videos of his amazing progress at www.babyadamsjourney.com.

We have targeted raising $150,000 to make these surgeries possible.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

John A. van Aalst