During the nine months of pregnancy, a mother’s heart is brimming with excitement, expectation, and a touch of uncertainty. Every expecting parent wants their child to be happy and healthy when they give birth. Sadly, things do not always turn out the way we expect them to.
Highland, New York resident Jennie Wilklow eagerly anticipated meeting her daughter. The moment Jennie and her husband held their newborn, they were flooded with joy.
They had numerous ultrasounds and checks with the doctor, all of which had revealed a healthy baby.
They felt at ease after hearing this guarantee, and they were unaware that their precious Anna would be born with a condition that would change their life for good.
To deliver Anna, Jennie underwent a C-section at 34 weeks. When the doctors placed the infant in her arms, she stared into Anna’s eyes and had an incredible feeling of love.
With their adorable child, everything seemed to be going well. But when Jennie’s husband came to see her, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy about him.
I was terrified by my husband’s quiet, Jennie said to Cafe Mom. As the doctor left the room, I prodded him for more details, and he sat there in shock.” He said the regretful words “It’s bad.”
Her husband remarked, “Jennie, she has the most beautiful soul,” after looking into her eyes. At the moment, Jennie was unable to comprehend what such words meant. She was unsure of what was wrong as her mind raced.
Anna had a rare condition called harlequin ichthyosis, which manifested as thick, diamond-shaped plates that were deeply cracked. Within seconds of her delivery, Jennie told Cafe Mom, “Her delicate skin hardened as they desperately tried to help her.”
She was left with open wounds all over her body as a result of the extreme splitting that occurred after the hardening.”Despite the doctors’ worries about Anna’s chances of surviving, she triumphed. She was an absolute beauty,” Jennie exclaimed with pride.
Unfortunately, harlequin ichthyosis cannot be treated. Consistent effort is required for the treatment, which includes taking frequent showers and thoroughly moisturizing the skin. “Every few hours, I would bathe her for hours while dousing her with Vaseline.
Even though it seemed insignificant, it was one of the things I battled with the most. I had imagined all the wonderful outfits my baby would wear,” Jennie revealed.
To spread awareness of this illness, she created the “harlequin diva” Instagram page and posted pictures of Anna there. She provides insight into the difficulties that parents of children with harlequin ichthyosis face on a daily basis through her articles.
“Anna is the epitome of perfection in its purest form, and she won the hearts of many people.” Her ability to perform these routine duties comes naturally. Every time we reach a new milestone, the entire globe rejoices with us, Jennie told Cafe Mom.
“I now understand that Anna was given to me because of my love for my daughter,” she continued. We shall jointly redefine what true beauty is to the world because we were meant to be together.
Anna is lovely in her own right, and she is lucky to have parents who go above and beyond to make sure she leads a happy life.
Let’s share this article on Facebook with our friends and family to help spread the word about Anna’s story. Together, despite our differences, we can promote awareness of and appreciate the amazing power and beauty that each person possesses.
