Ephraim Vinton Spencer is our amazing little superhero; he is 1 of 4 superheroes in our family. Ephraim was born with an association of birth defects referred to as VACTERL (Vertebrae/Anal Atresia/Cardiac Anomalies/TracheoEsophageal Fistula/Renal/Limb). Although he didn't exhibit all of the associated conditions, what he got has been a challenge nonetheless. Ephraim ended up with Vertebrae, Cardiac Anomalies (a few small holes in his heart), and Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Tracheoesophageal Fistula is a condition in which there is a persistent connection between the esophagus and the windpipe. In Ephraim's case, his upper esophagus stopped in a blind pouch and didn't connect to anything, while his lower esophagus was connected to his windpipe. When Ephraim was 4 days old the doctors performed an operation to repair his Tracheoesophageal Fistula. I still try not to think about what would have happened had Ephraim been born 40 years ago. One of the routine operations that Ephraim has to endure is esophageal dilation. When he underwent that procedure for the first time at about 6 months old, the surgeon estimated that the interior diameter of his esophagus was roughly 1 millimeter. It still amazes me that at 3 days old, when the size of his esophagus must have been a fraction of a millimeter, the pediatric surgeon was able to cut, sew, and maintain the integrity so well. In Ephraim's 3 and 1/2 years, he has had 21 stays in the Pediatric ICU and Randall Children's Hospital. Through all of Ephraim's illnesses he has developed significant lung disease that makes it difficult to fight even the common cold. While Brianna and I work full time and both have health insurance, the groundbreaking treatments and care Ephraim has received and will continue to receive are not always within the limit of what insurance companies are willing to pay. The amount I have set for a fundraising goal is not anywhere close to the amount that we owe in medical bills, but every little bit helps. Thank you all so much for supporting our family in any way you can, even with positive thoughts if you are unable to give financially. Love, The Spencer's