On September 12, Leo’s family received news that changed everything.

During pregnancy, doctors discovered that their unborn baby had Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), often known as brittle bone disease. They believed Leo had the most severe form, Type 2, and warned his parents that he might not survive the pregnancy or could have only a very short time after birth.

The family was even told that ending the pregnancy might be the kinder choice.

For Leo’s loved ones, the words were almost impossible to process. His mother had already dreamed about the little boy she was carrying, and suddenly the family was being asked to imagine life without him.

“They told us he was broken and breaking,” the family recalled. “But we couldn’t stop loving him or hoping for him.”

For the next four months, they lived between fear and hope. They prepared for every possibility, even making funeral plans while also imagining what life might look like if the doctors were wrong.

Christmas became especially emotional. Leo’s mother wanted photographs surrounded by the people she loved, knowing she might never have another Christmas with her son.

Then, on January 11, everything changed.

At 11:10 a.m., weighing 5 pounds 11 ounces, Leo Alexander was born crying, breathing and very much alive.

The doctors had been wrong.

Leo was not born without challenges. His condition meant his tiny bones were extremely fragile, and his family had to be constantly mindful of his movements and care. But from his very first moments, he showed a determination that surprised everyone.

Doctors had expected him to spend three to six months in the NICU. Instead, Leo spent just 19 days at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital before finally going home.

Those weeks were filled with frightening moments, careful monitoring and uncertainty, but Leo continued to overcome each hurdle placed in front of him.

And his journey did not suddenly become easy after leaving the hospital.

His first six months brought plenty of ups and downs, with his family describing life with Leo as an emotional roller coaster. Yet alongside the difficult days came countless moments of happiness — his smiles, his growing personality and the way he seemed to brighten every room he entered.

“He is an amazingly happy spirit,” his family said. “We see him touch and inspire people everywhere he goes.”

Six months after doctors had feared he might never make it into the world, Leo was still here — smiling, growing and writing his own story.

His family knows there will be challenges ahead as he continues living with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. But they no longer measure his future by the predictions they once heard.

They measure it one precious day at a time.

“We are grateful for every second of every day,” his family shared. “Leo’s entire life stands out to us.”