Linda Smith

Washington

Linda Smith

Co-Hub Leader

linda@averysangels.org

Hi, my name is Linda Smith and I am a Gastroschisis Survivor. My mother found out at 12 weeks I would be born with the defect after it was confirmed by a specialist at the Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. She was scheduled for monthly and then biweekly check ups to monitor the growth and thickening of my bowel. Shortly after birth I had my closure surgery, which took only 2 hours after which I began my long 30 day recovery in the NICU. Now as an adult I have had no further major complications due to the gastroschisis and am excitedly expecting my first child September of 2017. To this day, I still remember when I found out about Avery’s Angels. It was a huge moment for me to see that I wasn’t alone and that there were more people out there just like me as well as a group dedicated to spreading support and awareness for gastroschisis. I am so excited to be able to join the Avery’s Angels team and now do for others what they were able to do for me.