Gastroschisis Awareness Day is observed every year on July 30th to raise awareness about this rare but serious congenital condition affecting newborns.

Gastroschisis is a defect of the abdominal wall through which abdominal organs, most commonly the intestines—and sometimes others—protrude outside the baby's body. It can be diagnosed prenatally via ultrasound, and after birth, at least one surgery is required. The length of hospital stay, recovery process, and long-term outcomes vary for each child. Gastroschisis occurs in approximately 1–5 out of every 10,000 births, and its exact cause remains unknown. Expecting parents are encouraged to connect with families who have gone through this experience, learn the names of their doctors, the hospitals where their children were treated, how soon after birth surgery was performed, and how long recovery lasted. Once a hospital is selected, all further decisions are made in consultation with the medical team that will care for the baby.

The Global Gastroschisis Foundation was founded in 2009 by Meghan Raunen in memory of her son Avery, who lived for four months and passed away on July 30th, 2009. That is why this specific date was chosen to mark Gastroschisis Awareness Day. Recovery often involves parenteral nutrition and tube feeding, and in some cases, stomach contents are drained through the feeding tube. When the output from the tube begins to turn green (a shade of lime green), it's a sign that the intestines have "woken up," digestion is beginning to function, and the baby may soon be ready to start normal feeding. This moment is an important milestone in recovery. Green is the official color of gastroschisis awareness for this reason.

Website of the organization: https://averysangels.org https://averysangels.org

For emotional and informational support, expectant (and current) parents of children with gastroschisis can contact local volunteers from The Global Gastroschisis Foundation:
• margareta@averysangels.org
• bojana@averysangels.org

💚 💚 On July 30th, cities across Croatia light up in green in honor of Gastroschisis Awareness Day.
https://prezi.com/view/K0mcisqfAHoiBigZXisU/

This content was developed with the financial support of the Ministry of Health. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the Croatian Alliance for Rare Diseases and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the views of the Ministry of Health.