Doctors Urge Mom To Deliver Early-Then Comes Devastating Diagnosis

A mom was told to rush to the hospital for an urgent delivery, not knowing it would lead to a life-changing diagnosis for her baby.

Tanesia Wafford told Newsweek that she experienced a “difficult pregnancy” with her daughter Zaria.

“I felt as if every time I went to the doctor for routine check-ups, they were telling me about another issue,” the 26-year-old said. “I had gestational diabetes during this pregnancy which prompted more visits with my primary doctor.”

By 35 weeks and five days, concerns had mounted. During a routine maternal fetal medicine appointment, doctors noted low fetal movement, growth restriction and high amniotic fluid levels.

After a scan, Wafford was pulled into another room and, via a Zoom consultation, informed of further concerns.

“He decided for me, and the best interest of Zaria, to send us to the hospital for extra monitoring and possibly early delivery,” she said.

Zaria was born on March 20, 2025, weighing exactly 5 pounds, but shortly after birth, issues emerged. She struggled to wake for feeds, had difficulty eating, a weak cry and low muscle tone, leading to a 47-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Genetic testing was discussed early on but took more than a week to be carried out. When results came back, Wafford was at home with her husband Deontai, 26, and two sons: Zy’Aire, 4, and Zaylin, 2.

“I had a sinking feeling in my stomach,” Tanesia said. “I already knew what he was going to tell me.”

At the hospital, a doctor entered with stacks of paperwork and delivered the news that Zaria has Prader-Willi syndrome or Angelman syndrome but was unsure which one.

Prader-Willi syndrome-Zaria’s confirmed diagnosis-is a rare genetic condition that affects a child's development, behavior and metabolism, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“I remember not knowing what to say,” Wafford said. “I just stared at him.”

She called her mom and her best friend in tears. "I [kept] saying, ‘Why me? Why her?'"

The days that followed were filled with a mix of grief and the mundanity of real life.

“I had to leave my daughter in the NICU and return to my other two children like everything was okay,” Wafford said. “I had to hide my pain and grief, while making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”

Zaria is now 15 months old. While she has developmental delays and requires frequent therapies and medical care, Wafford said her daughter continues to make progress. "She lights up every room she comes in," she said. "She's learning things every day."

She currently uses a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to manage severe sleep apnea and is preparing to begin growth hormone therapy, which can support feeding, muscle tone and development.

Her family is also working toward milestones like walking with the support of physical therapy.

Wafford shared her daughter’s diagnosis on social media (@tanesiawafford). She hopes to encourage other parents facing a diagnosis.

“If you are a parent with a child who has rare disability, or any disability at all, know that there is help and support out there for you,” Wafford said. “Rare is challenging, rare is difficult but it’s also beautiful and fulfilling.”

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 9:45 AM.