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Jacqui White and Paul Davis pose with White's son and Davis' daughter, ice dancing partners and 2014 Olympic gold medal winners Charlie White and Meryl Davis.
American swimmer Michael Phelps shares a joke with his mother, Debbie, left, and his sister Hilary after a race at the World Championships in Shanghai, China, in 2011.
U.S. athlete Ashton Eaton celebrates with his mother, Roselyn, after he won the decathlon during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
U.S. snowboarder Shaun White is surrounded by his family after winning gold during the 2006 Olympic Games in Italy. From left is his mother, Cathy; his sister, Kari; his brother, Jesse; and his father, Roger.
British Olympian Zara Phillips is presented with a silver medal by her mother, Princess Anne, after an equestrian event in the 2012 Olympics.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt celebrates victory and a new world record with his mother, Jennifer Bolt, following a race at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in 2011.
British cyclist Chris Hoy celebrates with his father, David, after winning the keirin final during the Track Cycling World Championships in England in 2008.
U.S. gymnast Jordyn Wieber listens as her mother, Rita, talks to NBC's Matt Lauer on the "Today" show in 2012.
Track-and-field legend Carl Lewis hugs his mother, Evelyn, after his farewell race in Texas in 1997.
American gymnast Gabby Douglas signs autographs while her mother, Natalie Hawkins, stands nearby at a Skokie, Illinois, bookstore in 2013.
Gymnast Shawn Johnson celebrates with her father, Doug, after the United States won the women's team final at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Germany in 2007.
Saudi judo athlete Wojdan Shaherkani arrives with her father, Ali, for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Serbian sport shooter Ivana Maksimovic, left, hugs her mother and coach, Miriban, after winning a silver medal at the London Games.
U.S. tennis player Serena Williams, right, climbs up to embrace her father, Richard, and her sister Venus after winning Wimbledon in 2012. Williams won Olympic gold later that summer.
Moroccan runner Hicham El Guerrouj, right, smiles at his baby daughter, Hiba, next to his father, El Ayachi, at the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece.
U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman gets a hug from her parents, Rick and Lynn, after being named to the Olympic team in 2012.
German fencer Imke Duplitzer hugs her father after an Olympic win in 2004.
U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte and his mother, Ileana, appear on the "Today" show in 2012.
German gymnast Fabian Hambuchen, right, talks to his father and coach, Wolfgang, during a training session before the 2008 Olympics.
American gymnast Nastia Liukin celebrates with her father and coach, Valeri, after winning gold in the individual all-around at the Olympics in 2008.
U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin falls asleep on the sofa while her mother, D.A., prepares dinner at their home in Colorado in 2011.
Italian fencer Valentina Vezzali kisses her mother, Enrica, after winning a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games.
U.S. figure skater Michelle Kwan smiles to the crowd after competing during the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. At right is her father, Danny.
Skier Jeremy Bloom gets a hug from his father, Larry, after earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in 2005.
American speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and his father, Yuki, smile as Apolo Anton Ohno Day is announced in Seattle in 2002.
Basketball player Becky Hammon receives a kiss from her mother, Bev, at the 2008 Olympic Games. Hammon played for Russia.
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- When Caitlin Sarubbi was born, doctors didn't know if she'd live through the night
- Caitlin was born with Ablepharon Macrostomia Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder
- Caitlin became a top visually impaired skier and made it to the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver
- A Harvard undergrad, she's focusing on raising awareness of people with disabilities
Editor's note: Kelly Wallace is CNN's digital correspondent and editor-at-large covering family, career and life. She is a mom of two. Read her other columns and follow her reports at CNN Parents and on Twitter.
(CNN) -- When Cathy Sarubbi's first child was born, she could have never imagined the girl would grow up to become a U.S. Paralympian who competed in Vancouver and trained for Sochi. She couldn't dream of anything for her daughter because she didn't know if the baby would even live through the night.
In the weeks leading up to the delivery, excitement was building for the first grandchild on one side of the Sarubbi family, and the third on the other: 150 family and friends feted her with a baby shower at The Tamaqua, a neighborhood bar owned by her husband's family for three generations.
CNN's Kelly Wallace grew up in Gerritsen Beach but wasn't aware of Caitlin's story until now.
Sarubbi lives in a tight-knit community in Brooklyn called Gerritsen Beach. Surrounded by water on three sides, it is as small-town as you can get inside a borough with a population of more than 2 million. It is where I grew up (I knew the Sarubbi family growing up, but wasn't aware of Caitlin's story until now).
The big day finally arrived. After three or four normal sonograms, Sarubbi, then 27 years old, went into labor. "And out comes the baby, and the room goes quiet," she said during a recent interview.
Fireworks explode after the Closing Ceremony of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia, on Sunday, March 16.
Dancers perform during the Closing Ceremony on March 16.
Flag bearer and Alpine skier Jade Etherington of Great Britain enters the stadium during Closing Ceremony.
Performers hold glow sticks during the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony.
In another shot of the glow sticks, participants are basked in color.
Aerial performers in action during the Closing Ceremony.
An acrobat balances on a ball as Cossack dancers perform.
South Korean dancers perform during the Closing Ceremony.
Russia team members enter the stadium before Closing Ceremony.
An actor performs during the Closing Ceremony.
The Russian and South Korean flags fly as a performer sings. South Korea will host the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
What seemed impossible proved possible every day at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi.
Momoko Dekijima of Japan competes in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer free standing event on Sunday, March 16, on Day Nine of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The Paralympics are being held in the same venues as the recently completed Winter Olympic Games.
Chris Klebl of Canada competes to win the gold medal in the men's cross-country 10-kilometer sitting event on March 16.
Beth Requist and Tatyana McFadden of the United States compete in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer sitting event.
Valiantsina Shyts of Belarus reacts after crossing the finish line in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer sitting event on March 16.
Brittany Hudak of Canada competes in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer free standing event.
Melissa Perrine of Australia crashes in the women's giant slalom visually impaired event on March 16.
Gold medalist Elena Remizova of Russia collapses after crossing the finish line in the women's cross-country 5-kilometer free visually impaired event.
Vladimir Udaltcov of Russia competes in the men's cross country 10-kilometer free visually impaired event on March 16.
Canadian players react during the medal ceremony after the ice sledge hockey gold medal game between the Russian Federation and the United States on Saturday, March 15. The United States won, 1-0.
Nikko Landeros of the U.S. celebrates after winning the ice sledge hockey gold medal game against the Russian Federation on March 15.
Joshua Sweeney of the United States scores the game-winning goal past Vladimir Kamantcev of Russia during the ice sledge hockey gold medal game between the United States and Russia on March 15.
Aleksandr Akhmadulin of Russia crashes in the men's giant slalom standing during day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
Vincent Gauthier-Manuel of France celebrates winning the gold medal in the giant slalom standing during day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
Tino Uhlig of Germany leads the field at the start of the 4 x 2.5-kilometer mixed relay cross-country on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
Hiraku Misawa of Japan competes in the men's giant slalom standing at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
Loyd-Remi Pallander Solberg of Norway, left, collides with Adam Dixon of Canada during the ice sledge hockey bronze medal match at Shayba Arena during the Paralympic Winter Games on Saturday, March 15, in Sochi, Russia.
Ivan Frantsev of Russia competes in the men's giant slalom visually impaired on March 15.
Grigory Murygin, left, Vladislav Lekomtcev, Roman Petushkov and Rushan Minnegulov of Russia celebrate after winning the 4 x 2.5-kilometer open relay cross-country skiing event on March 15.
Aleksandr Akhmadulin of Russia crashes in the men's giant slalom standing on March 15.
Eirik Bye of Norway and guide Kristian Myhre Hellerud compete in the mixed 4 x 2.5-kilometer relay cross-country skiing event on March 15.
Andrea Eskau of Germany competes in the women's 12.5-kilometer sitting biathlon on Friday, March 14.
French snowboarder Patrice Barattero competes on March 14.
Alena Kaufman of Russia competes in the women's biathlon on March 14.
Russian skier Inga Medvedeva competes on March 14.
Lidziya Hrafeyeva of Belarus competes in the women's sitting biathlon on March 14.
Kenji Natsume of Japan competes in the men's sitting slalom event on March 14.
Goalie Man-Gyun Yu and defender Young-Jae Cho of South Korea stop Sweden from scoring in a hockey game March 14.
Kozo Kubo of Japan crosses the finish line in the men's biathlon on March 14.
A snowboarder with a lower limb prosthesis competes on March 14.
Mykhaylo Tkachenko of Ukraine competes in the 12.5-kilometer sitting biathlon on March 14.
Russia's men's hockey team celebrates after winning a semifinal match against Norway on Thursday, March 13.
Aleksandr Akhmadulin of Russia crashes in the men's slalom on March 13.
Haitao Du of China competes in the men's cross-country sprint on Wednesday, March 12.
Cross-country skiers train on March 12.
Zdenek Safranek of the Czech Republic shoots for goal during an ice sledge hockey game against South Korea on March 12.
Russian cross-country skier Vladimir Kononov races during the semifinal of the 1-kilometer sprint on March 12.
Dmytro Shulga of Ukraine competes in the men's visually impaired biathlon Tuesday, March 11.
Audun Bakke of Norway, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring Norway's second goal March 11 during their sledge hockey game against Sweden.
American skier Stephanie Jallen races to win the bronze medal in the super-G on Monday, March 10.
American skier Laurie Stephens competes in the women's super-G on March 10.
Graeme Murray of Canada and Emil Kirstistuen of Norway vie for the puck during an ice sledge hockey game on Sunday, March 9.
Akira Kano is on his way to gold in the men's super-G on March 9.
Bob McPherson of Great Britain competes in a mixed curling match versus Sweden on March 9.
Adam Dixon competes during the ice sledge hockey game between Canada and Norway on March 9.
Tyler Carron of the United States, left, collides with Jong Ho-jang of South Korea during a ice sledge hockey game on March 9.
Austrian skier Markus Salcher won gold in the super-G on March 9.
Austrian skier Claudia Loesch races in the women's downhill on Saturday, March 8.
Japanese skier Takeshi Suzuki competes in the men's downhill on March 8.
Joseph Jimmy, right, steadies the chair of Lino Meghan of the United States during a curling match against South Korea on March 8.
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The doctors and nurses were stunned. In fact, a neonatalogist told Sarubbi that he had never seen anything like it in over 20 years of practicing, the mother of five told me.
Her daughter, who would be named Caitlin, was born with no eyelids, underdeveloped ears and other facial deformities. Her vision was dramatically impacted because amniotic fluid inside the womb damaged her corneas.
Sarubbi, who had to be rushed into the operating room after delivery because she was hemorrhaging, didn't see her baby until 12 hours later.
She remembers the maternity nurse who took her to see Caitlin for the first time.
" 'Now you stop your crying, you get on your knees and you pray. ... Let's go mama,' " Sarubbi said the nurse told her. "She gave me that smack in the face I needed."
Caitlin Sarubbi credits her parents, including her mom Cathy, for helping her achieve all that she has accomplished.
The doctors told her Caitlin might die, become mentally challenged or legally blind. "They didn't know what to do so they just put her under the jaundice lights," she said. When someone dropped a tray, and Caitlin jumped, she and her husband knew their baby could hear sounds and decided they had to get her into a hospital with more specialized care.
"It's been pretty much a miracle ever since."
'She was fully accepted'
When Caitlin was just 3 days old, she had the first of some 70 surgeries she would have over the next 24 years.
Doctors determined she had Ablepharon Macrostomia Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder characterized by various physical abnormalities that could affect the head and facial area, the skin, and fingers, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
After nearly 10 weeks in the hospital, Caitlin, who is called Caitie by her family and friends, came home. "And it was like the floodgates of Gerritsen Beach opened," said Sarubbi, remembering the love and support she received, especially that first time she walked baby Catie in a stroller down the main avenue running throughout the community.
Ukraine paralympians compete in Sochi
Paralympic medalist helps Boston victims
"She was fully accepted, so that gave us strength to put her out in the world ... and it didn't stop."
It didn't stop, indeed.
READ: Double gold for Sochi Paralympic skiing stars
Caitlin, who is legally blind and partially hearing impaired, would go on to ski in the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver and get into Harvard University, where she is studying social and cognitive neuroscience.
She got her Harvard admissions letter and her nomination letter to the U.S. ski team in the same week during her senior year in high school.
"It was just so powerful for me because this was years of work and sacrifice, and to have it all come together in this one, two, three day span, it was like wow, this actually happened. This was all worth it," Caitlin told me during an interview.
She owes everything to her mom, and her dad John, a New York City firefighter, she said.
"If it wasn't for them ... I wouldn't be here today because so many other people could have (broken) under that kind of pressure and that kind of decision making," she said. "My syndrome is so rare. ... It wasn't even something that they had a plan of action for from previous examples."
A passion grows out of tragedy
New York communities were hit hard by the September 11 terror attacks, including Gerritsen Beach, which is home to many firefighters. The inlet community lost residents, including two members of the New York City Fire Department.
Charitable offers to firefighters to attend concerts and meet celebrities poured in, and John Sarubbi, deeply in pain, turned them all down, his wife said.
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Disabled Sports USA, a group that tries to help people with disabilities live full lives through sports, offered an all-expenses paid trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, to John and Cathy along with 11-year-old Caitlinand their three other children at the time. Cathy jumped at the chance, but John was reluctant, thinking it was a scam to commit the family into buying something.
"Johnny's like, 'I'm not going. It's a time-share spiel,' " said Cathy.
But they went.
Four years later, John received a lifetime achievement award from Disabled Sports USA. Now he travels to Colorado every year to volunteer along with his entire family. Besides inspiring the Sarubbis to give back through volunteering, that trip did something else. It gave birth to Caitlin's love affair with ski racing.
At first, Caitlin was a bit of a chicken on the mountain, she said, but over time she got more aggressive, and decided to give racing a try when the Adaptive Sports Foundation, a group the family volunteers with in Windham, New York, started a race team and asked her to join.
"I did like the feeling it gave you, like a freedom," said Caitlin. "And then I just fell in love with racing because it was a controlled environment to be out of control almost."
Caitlin Sarubbi, a disabled U.S. skier, stands before a flag at the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver.
Always reaching higher
As a super high-achiever, who took Advanced Placement courses in high school even while missing up to 10 weeks of classes to train, she set her sights on the next big goal.
"What's the next thing I can do, what's the next thing I can achieve?" she remembers thinking at the time. "I need to make the U.S. ski team."
After her first semester at Harvard, Caitlin took 2½ years off to train for Vancouver, the site of the 2010 Winter Paralympics.
PHOTOS: Winter Paralympics opening ceremony
Family, friends and other supporters -- 38 people in all -- traveled to cheer on Caitlin at the Games.
"Mostly all of them had known me since I was a baby... so for them to kind of experience that transition with us was kind of incredible," said Caitlin, who finished sixth in two races and eighth in another.
She would gain national exposure when Procter & Gamble, through its "Thank You, Mom" program, saluting the moms behind the athletes, chose to feature her in a campaign, along with four Olympic athletes: speedskater J.R. Celski, moguls skier Hannah Kearney, ice hockey team player Julie Chu and snowboarder Seth Wescott.
"It meant so much that they acknowledged the Paralympics," said Caitlin. "I didn't even get a medal in Vancouver, but they thought my story was good enough to include with these other amazing athletes."
READ: Always someone there for moms of special-needs kids
This year, P&G created its first ad specifically for the Paralympics, which Caitlin said is another huge step in putting the Olympics for athletes with disabilities on the map. The Paralympics wrap up Sunday in Sochi.
Getting the gold
Caitlin Sarubbi, who is legally blind, and her sister Jamie, her downhill skiiing guide, during training in Mt. Hood, Colorado.
After 2½ years at Harvard, Caitlin decided to make a run for Sochi. She took a year and a half off from school, and moved to Mt. Hood, Colorado, along with her 20-year-old sister Jamie, who would train to be her guide. All visually impaired downhill skiers have a guide, who skis in front of them and helps direct them down the mountain.
But during a warm-up run in December, when Caitlin said she was giving it her all, her dream of a second Paralympic run came crashing to an end. She got a concussion during a wipe out, missed five weeks of training and did not secure a spot on the U.S. Paralympic team.
The girl who achieved everything she set out to do now faced something she had never faced before.
"This is the first time Caitlin ever set out for anything and it didn't happen," said Cathy.
In an e-mail to family, friends and supporters, Caitlin told them her Sochi hopes were over, thanked them for their support and then attached an e-mail from the mother of a child who has a disability.
"The e-mail was inspiring. She said I love your story. You gave me so much hope," said Caitlin, who is back home in Brooklyn, volunteering with the Adaptive Sports Foundation and looking for internships this summer before returning to Harvard in the fall."I kind of attached a little bit of that e-mail and said, 'Listen this is why I want to do it. I want to raise awareness.' "
"And (if) you look at it from that way, I won. I got the gold medal," she told her supporters. "I don't need to go to Sochi."
What do you think it takes to raise a child with disabilities? Chime in below in the comments or tell Kelly Wallace on Twitter or CNN Living on Facebook.
