VACTERL / VATER
Support Group
We are a group of families reaching out to other families who have a child born with VACTERL/VATER, adults with VACTERL or any individual who may have similar related health issues. As parents, most of us had never heard of VACTERL at the time of our child's birth.
The purpose of our support group is to share resources, tips and information among the families. This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. The group will enable the VACTERL child/adult to have a support group of friends & peers.
The Denver VACTERL/VATER Support Group meets on a quarterly basis. However, many families are in contact with each other on a regular basis.
We encourage you to contact us because we can be helpful to you and your child as you go through the different stages of development and medical procedures/treatments. We want to be a resource to you and help make the journey with a VACTERL child as easy as possible for you, your family and your child.
None scheduled at this time.
VACTERL/VATER is an acronym, not a disease or a syndrome. It is used to describe the types of anomalies (physical birth defects) children may have when they are born. It is an association characterized by the sporadic association of specific birth defects or abnormalities. Not all children born with this association have the exact same level of abnormality. Some may be mild, while others may be severe.
Some children have the full spectrum of VACTERL, but a child with more than two problems in any combination may be recognized as fitting the VACTER Association. If a physician sees at least two anomalies that fit within the VACTERL Association, he/she knows to look for other related problems. This is important because problems that are identified early can be treated with surgery, medicine, or therapies before a child has major complications. A child with VACTERL Association may be seen be several specialists and have several test done.
While the majority of children with VACTERL Association have normal intelligence, they may have delayed growth and development in the early years. Examples of some of the anomalies that may occur are:
(V) - Vertebrae problems - abnormally formed vertebrae, tehered spinal cord, extra ribs,
missing ribs and tailbone, etc.
(A) - Anal anomalies/rectal problems - no anal opening
(C) - Cardiac problems - minor to massive heart problems
(T) - Trachea (windpipe) - improper connections between trachea and esophagus
(E) - Esophagus - part of the esophagus connecting the mouth and stomach is missing
(R) - Renal (kidney) - abnormal kidney(s)
(L) - Limb - various hand, feet and leg problems, missing bone structures are common
(S) - Single artery umbilical cord - the umbilical cord has one artery and one vein instead of
two arteries and one vein
The specific needs of each child who has VACTERL vary from child to child, as well as the severity of the anomalies.
October Newsletter
VATER Connection
Pull-Through Network
VATER Information