Angela Diven still remembers the moment her world changed. Immediately after delivering her son, Layton, via emergency cesarean-section (C-section) her husband, Chad, had a look she’d never forget. “He showed me a picture of our baby because I hadn’t seen or held him yet,” she recalled. “He wasn’t breathing, and his legs were deformed. I could tell he was in pain.”

Two hours later, Chad returned with a devastating update after being rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “The doctor said Layton wasn’t going to live,” she recalled.

Angela, a radiologic technologist, had suspected something wasn’t quite right as early as 14 weeks into her pregnancy. As an experienced medical professional, she had hoped the early scans were inconclusive—just a fluke of timing. But as the weeks progressed, Layton’s limb measurements fell further and further behind, and the family was referred to maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

“They mentioned the possibility of dwarfism and even osteogenesis imperfecta. But there were no fractures visible at the time,” Angela said. “Still, in my gut, I knew.”

A Shattering Birth and a Shifting Diagnosis

Despite a high-risk pregnancy, Angela hoped for a natural birth experience. But complications escalated quickly—she developed pre-eclampsia and had to undergo an emergency C-section. Layton wasn’t breathing when he was born, and worse still, his bones were breaking as he entered the world.

“We later learned he had old and new fractures—his body was so fragile. The doctors told us they believed it was Type II OI, the most severe and typically lethal form,” Angela said. “They didn’t think he’d make it through the night.”

Angela was desperate to see her son before he passed. “Due to my pre-eclampsia, I couldn’t leave the floor, and Layton was in critical condition with multiple fractures, so he couldn’t move. I pushed the staff to let me see him,” she said. “He was moaning in pain. It was unbearable—I couldn’t comfort him because if I held him, I could hurt him.”

But Layton survived the night. Then three days. And gradually, his diagnosis shifted from Type II to Type III osteogenesis imperfecta, a severe but survivable form of the disorder. It was the first glimmer of hope after weeks of darkness.

Finding Lifesaving Care—and a Renewed Will to Live

Angela discovered the osteogenesis imperfecta team at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, through her research. “That first night after being treated in Nebraska, Layton slept better. He ate better. The pain relief helped. It was the first time someone gave us hope,” she said.

She speaks openly about the postpartum depression and suicidal thoughts she experienced after Layton’s birth. “I had pictured a different future—a little boy who’d play baseball like his dad. I felt like I had lost all of that in an instant,” she said. “But when I found that hope in Nebraska, it clicked. I wanted to be the best special needs mom I could be. This is my assignment, and I’ll do it with everything I have.”

Angela is now Layton’s full-time caregiver. She administers his port medications, manages his pain protocol, and coordinates with doctors in both Nebraska and Louisiana. “I didn’t want to do all of it at first,” she admitted. “But I knew I had to. I was built for this.”

A Day in the Life—and the Burden of Care

Layton is now 10 years old. He has experienced many fractures and severe pain throughout his life. To date, Layton has undergone 17 surgeries, including hernia repairs, port replacements, rod placements or revisions to his long bones—critical in helping prevent recurring fractures.

But regardless, he is a joyful, determined child who lives each day to the fullest. Layton attends school with an aide and plays wheelchair baseball on Friday nights. “He knows he’s different—and he’s okay with it,” Angela said. “He’s grateful. When he feels good, those moments are extra sweet.”

‍Advocacy, Acceptance, and a Future Full of Possibility

Angela speaks with clarity and resilience, which only comes from surviving the unimaginable. “It was the worst thing that ever happened to me, and the best,” she said. “God prepared me to be his mom—Layton gave me purpose. I want to live forever to be here for him.”

She continues to share their story publicly to raise awareness, support other parents, and help shift how healthcare providers respond to rare diagnoses. “We need more education, early genetic testing, more compassion,” she said. “When I started this journey, I didn’t know anyone else was going through it. Now I know the power of community.”

As she advocates for more awareness and better care for children with OI, she also shares a simple message with parents. “You may feel broken. You may feel like your world has ended. But I promise you—it hasn’t. Your child can still have a beautiful life. It will just look different, and that’s okay,” she said.