But one night, everything changed.

At first, the baby began to whine quietly. After a few hours, the crying grew louder, and by nightfall, it had become a continuous scream. He wouldn’t calm down, neither in his arms nor in his crib. His body was tense, his face was flushed, and his breathing was labored.

The father carried the child around the room, trying to rock him. The mother tried everything she could think of. The child was fed, his diaper changed, and he was bundled up warmly. The apartment was warm, but the crying didn’t stop.

Towards nightfall, the parents went to the emergency clinic. Doctors examined the child, took his vital signs, and said it was common colic, which is common in infants. They recommended massage and eye drops, and sent him home.

The parents believed the doctors.

For the next two days, the child barely slept. The crying continued day and night. The parents swapped positions, carried him in their arms, and walked around the apartment, but to no avail. Fatigue mounted, and anxiety grew.

On the third night, the father sent his wife to rest and was left alone with the baby. He secured the carrier to his chest and slowly walked from room to room, trying not to stop. Over time, the baby’s cries became quieter and turned into heavy breathing.

When the baby calmed down a bit, the father sat up and looked at him closely. He noticed that one of his son’s legs moved normally, but the other was barely moving and held bent. This struck him as odd.