Laura Interviews with The Record

BY TERECILLE BASA-ONG
The Record
STAFF WRITER
WHO: Laura and Jorge Posada.

WHAT: Signing their book, "The Beauty of Love: A Memoir of Miracles, Hope, and Healing."

WHEN: Noon Thursday.

WHERE: Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood; 201-445-0726 or book-ends.com.

HOW MUCH: Free with purchase of book ($24).

Laura Posada is more than a ballplayer's wife. The former model and actress is also a Miami-based attorney, but most of all, she's an advocate for her son Jorge Luis, 10. Just 10 days after his birth, the Posadas discovered he had craniosynostosis, a congenital defect in which the infant's skull fuses too early and prevents the brain from further developing.

What should have been a stellar year, with the arrival of their son and Jorge Sr. becoming the New York Yankees' starting catcher, was actually the start of six years' worth of medical procedures for little Jorge Luis. The Posadas kept that struggle away from the limelight until, realizing they could help other families, they co-founded the Jorge Posada Foundation to offer support and spread awareness of the condition.

Laura Posada (also mom to Paulina, 8), who additionally serves on the board of directors of the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction, recently spoke by phone about their experience and why they decided to co-write "The Beauty of Love," all sales of which will go to the Posada Foundation.

Q. Keeping Jorge Luis's condition a secret could not have been an easy task – what led you to first let it out and then write the book?

In the beginning, we didn't want to talk about it, knowing that people were going to ask us questions and our answer would be, "I don't know." … When he was doing better, we decided it was time to start the foundation, to help other families. Writing the book came much later on, just two years ago; it wasn't my intention, but I had gone to the publisher about making a pamphlet with 10 stories from families the foundation had helped.

They said it was really inspiring, but that we needed to include our story too.

Q. Was there absolutely no evidence of your son's condition prior to his birth?

I was told everything looked good. From the moment we saw him, we noticed the shape of his head looked weird, but they kept telling us, "Don't worry about it." Finally, when he was 10 days old, we went to the doctor and that's when the whole thing started.

Q. After your ordeal, what led you two to decide to have another child just three years later? How did you feel during your second pregnancy?

We did all the genetic testing and found out the chances were lower of it happening again. We always wanted to have more than one child, plus we needed a little joy and happiness, and Paulina is exactly that.

You definitely didn't want to be around me when I was pregnant with Paulina! I was worried constantly, wanting to have sonograms every week, driving my husband and doctors crazy.

When she was finally born, I was kind of nervous, telling everyone to check her face, check her head.

It was a nightmare, but worth it.

Q. How is Jorge Luis these days?

He's doing good, in fifth grade now and no sign of any brain damage at all.

I'm obviously always a little more worried when he's doing sports or physical activities. He still is going to need one more surgery as he's still missing some bone on top of his left eyebrow, but at this point, it's not something we need to do right away. … I want him to be ready for it and tell me, "I'm ready for surgery now."

Q. Do your children understand what Jorge Luis has endured?

They definitely understand. We're always open with Jorge [Luis] about his condition, first because I want him to hear it from me and second of all, I want him to be able to explain what his condition is if someone asks him.

Q. What was it like to write the book?

It was hard. … I was hearing stories from friends and family I had forgotten about. It was like rebuilding a puzzle.

I went through the whole experience like a zombie, so writing the book helped me let it all out and just be free of the guilt that I had.

I'd thought maybe I had done something to hurt my son, but [the book] helped me realize there was nothing I did. Maybe there's a bigger plan for us, and that's why it happened: because we're in a position to make a difference.

Q. Looking back, what would you have done differently?

I wouldn't have tried to deal with it alone. I think that was the biggest mistake.

CLICK HERE to view the article at NorthJersey.com.

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Laura Interviews with The Record