Yuzuchi Mama: Learning and Sharing Life Lessons from My Daughter with Severe Disabilities and Trisomy 18

Marriage, childbirth, parenting.

At first glance, these may seem like ordinary events in life, but in reality, they are a series of miracles.

This time, we introduce Yuzuchi Mama, one of the mothers who has strongly felt these miracles through childbirth and parenting. Her only daughter, Yuzuchi-chan, has a disability known as Trisomy 18.

The disability was discovered at 30 weeks of pregnancy. Faced with a reality far from the life she had imagined, it was initially difficult for her to accept.

However, she says that Yuzuchi-chan's birth changed her perspective on life significantly and made living much easier.

What kind of life lessons did Yuzuchi Mama learn from Yuzuchi-chan? We delve into the thoughts Yuzuchi Mama wants to convey to mothers of children with disabilities and those requiring medical care.

*Information was confirmed and partially updated on March 13, 2026.

1. What is the severe physical and mental disability Trisomy 18?

Trisomy 18, which Yuzuchi-chan has, is one of the chromosomal abnormalities that often comes with various complications, including intellectual and physical disabilities.

It is said to occur in 1 in 6,000 people, and only 5-10% of children reach their first birthday. Although medical advancements show signs of improving prognosis, an effective treatment has yet to be established.

Reference: Trisomy 18｜MSD Manual

In Yuzuchi-chan's case, she has a heart condition known as double outlet right ventricle, along with symptoms like hearing loss, visual impairment, and severe physical disabilities.

As a result, she requires 24-hour medical care, including the use of a ventilator and tube feeding.

2. The miraculous birth story of Yuzuchi-chan

[Interviewer (Writer): Akaishi / Interviewee: Yuzuchi Mama]

Akaishi: Can you tell us how you felt when you found out Yuzuchi-chan had a disability?

Yuzuchi Mama: I am the youngest of four siblings, and having watched my sisters get married and raise children, I thought only healthy children would be born.

When the usually calm doctor spoke less during the ultrasound at 30 weeks and said, "The baby might be born with a disability," I was filled with anxiety and fear.

The future I had taken for granted crumbled in an instant.

I even thought, "Maybe it's better to place the baby in a facility because I lack the confidence to raise her. Can I pretend this never happened?"

Honestly, I cried a lot during my hospital stay.

Akaishi: What made you start thinking positively about childbirth and parenting?

Yuzuchi Mama: Yuzuchi would have to be admitted to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) after birth, so I was allowed to visit beforehand.

There, I saw tiny babies connected to tubes and monitors, trying their hardest to live.

Seeing those babies striving to live, I thought, the word "disability" is something we perceive, but it doesn't matter to these children.

Yuzuchi was breech in addition to having Trisomy 18. The doctor and nurses told me she might not survive birth and asked, "Do you want to attach a heart rate monitor?"

Some mothers can't bear the reality of a stillbirth and choose not to attach the monitor. However, believing that if Yuzuchi wanted to live, she would be born safely, I answered, "No matter what, please attach the monitor."

And on September 27, 2020, Yuzuchi, with Trisomy 18, was born at 18:18. It's truly a miracle.

3. Lessons learned from a daughter requiring medical care

Akaishi: Although there is support through the Medical Care Child Support Act, I imagine there are still many concerns about raising her at home. What was the main reason you decided to raise Yuzuchi-chan at home?

Yuzuchi Mama: I really want to show her various sights. That's the only reason. Since she was born against the odds, I want her to experience as much of this world as possible.

However, when she was discharged after a year and four months, I was full of anxiety. My husband works night shifts, so I often had to take care of Yuzuchi alone, and I felt overwhelmed by loneliness and anxiety every day.

During that time, Yuzuchi started to suddenly fall ill, and her condition worsened to the point of hospitalization.

Akaishi: What was the cause?

Yuzuchi Mama: Even after tests, the cause couldn't be identified. But the doctor told me, "Your earnestness is putting pressure on Yuzuchi-chan."

The reason for Yuzuchi's declining health was me.

Looking back, the pressure of taking care of Yuzuchi alone made me feel like I had to do everything perfectly, treating her more like a patient than a child. I was more focused on the monitor numbers than on her condition, overreacting to everything.

Perhaps because I had little experience of being praised as a child, I had a strong desire to be recognized by others. So, even though I thought, "I have to keep going despite the lack of sleep for my daughter's sake," my body reached its limit.

For the first time, I realized, "It's impossible to keep pushing myself." It was a turning point where I realized that I'm not living to be recognized by others, and it's okay to seek my own happiness.

After that, when I focused on watching over my daughter, she started to recover as if by magic.

Because she is a child requiring medical care, where even small things can be life-threatening, loneliness was terrifying. But by facing my daughter, I was able to reflect on my true self, and by accepting even the negative aspects of daily life, I became more positive.

Thanks to Yuzuchi's birth, I was able to reclaim my true self.

4. Why continue sharing the parenting journey of a child requiring medical care on Instagram