Little Roman is proof that there is a beautiful silver lining in every struggle
When Whitney Dinkel learned that her unborn baby had spina bifida and might never walk, she was consumed with worry over her future. But Roman not only defied medical expectations, he has spread joy to millions, proving there is a beautiful silver lining
Whitney Dinkel’s stomach sank as she repeated her doctor’s words. “My baby has spina bifida?” she choked, her eyes welling. Whitney had been so excited to find out she was pregnant with her third child, but in the 20 weeks of her pregnancy up to that point, the 30-yearold Kansas native couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Now, as the doctor explained that they had found fluid in the baby’s brain and spine, as well as an opening in his spinal column, her mind and heart filled with fear.
“Each child is different,” the doctor noted. “In the worst case, he could have cognitive delays and trouble eating and walking. But you do have options.”
“What options?” Whitney stammered, as her husband, Adam, took her trembling hand in his.
“You could terminate the pregnancy,” the doctor said as Whitney shook her head. “Or I could refer you to the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute, where they may be able to do in-utero surgery to sew your baby’s spine shut. It’s risky, but it could be his best chance.”
“Anything,” Whitney breathed, without skipping a beat. “I’ll do anything to help my baby.”
A heartfelt prayer
Another round of tests confirmed that she and her baby were candidates for fetal surgery, and at six months along, Whitney made her way to St. Louis, Missouri, where doctors very carefully closed the
opening in her baby’s back while he was still in the womb.
When she awoke to feel her baby kicking, Whitney’s heart filled with new hope. God, I know You have a purpose for my baby— please protect him and help him,
she prayed as the weeks went by. And though he was born one month early, baby Roman was unstoppable. When he almost kicked himself off the exam table, the doctors nicknamed him “Crazy Legs.”
Whitney watched in awe as, over the next year, Roman valiantly came through two serious surgeries to relieve the fluid in his brain, and started talking and meeting his cognitive and physical milestones.
He’s my amazing little warrior, Whitney shared on a Facebook page devoted to Roman’s progress.
Walking in hope
When Roman began pulling himself up to stand before he was 12 months old, Whitney and Adam rejoiced and gave Roman his first walker just a few months later. “Come on,” Whitney coaxed, as Roman giggled, unsure of what to do. But soon enough, he took off like a flash. By his second birthday, he was getting around so well that he graduated to forearm crutches. And this past August, Roman announced to the family cockapoo, Maggie, on a Facebook video: “Look Maggie! I walking!” as he used his “sticks” to make his way down the hall. That week, the video reached 22 million viewers as people the world over shared how Roman’s unbridled joy helped them beat depression, illness and more. Today, at 21⁄ 2, Roman has started taking steps on his own, continues to spread joy to hundreds of thousands of fans on Facebook and has a Gofundme (Gofundme.com/blessings-for-roman) account that benefits the Spina Bifida Association of Kansas City. “I always knew God had a purpose for him,” Whitney beams. “But seeing him become a beacon of hope for so many is an amazing blessing!” — Alexandra Pollock
“Seeing him become a beacon of hope for so many is an amazing blessing!” says Whitney