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Mom's Heartbreak: Scan Reveals Baby's Rare Limb Differences
26 Sep
Summary
- Doctors found a concerning abnormality in the baby's femur bone during a 21-week scan.
- The baby was diagnosed with two rare limb differences affecting her right leg.
- The mother grieves the imagined future, not the child herself.

Racquel Ferraro, a 31-year-old mother from Melbourne, Australia, experienced profound distress during a 21-week pregnancy scan. Initially anticipating joyful images of her baby girl, she and her partner, Chris Di Bella, were instead informed that the baby's femur bone was measuring significantly short.
This news led to difficult discussions, including the suggestion of termination, as the couple awaited further testing. Racquel described the subsequent six weeks as the "worst time" of her life, grappling with uncertainty and self-blame.
Born in July 2026, Daisy was diagnosed at eight weeks old with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) and fibular hemimelia, affecting her right leg, alongside associated hip, knee, and ankle abnormalities.
Racquel openly shares her journey, differentiating her grief for an imagined childhood from any wishing Daisy were different. She focuses on embracing Daisy wholly, learning about life with a disability, and cherishing her daughter exactly as she is.