Before my daughter was born, I carefully laid the groundwork for the support system everyone told me I would need as a new Mom, especially one living far from family. I took to heart the advice that I would need a village to make it through the early years of navigating motherhood , and I wanted my child to be surrounded by love. Yet, when my daughter was born with disabilities and complex medical needs, my village vanished, and I had to create a new one entirely. As soon as I found out I was