Those nine months a mom carries her baby are filled with joy, anticipation, and a dose of uncertainty. What the new parents hope for is their bundle of joy to be healthy. Sadly, that is not always the case.
Jennie Wilklow, from Highland, New York, couldn’t wait to meet her daughter. She and her husband were over the moon to hold her in their arms. All the ultrasounds and doctor’s appointment suggested the baby was healthy, so they were eased and never thought sweet Anna would be born with a condition that would change all of their lives forever.
Jennie delivered Anna via C-section at 34 weeks. Doctors told her she looked beautiful and that was all Jennie needed to hear at that point.
Shortly after, the proud mom heard her daughter cry, and that was just another sign that everything was right with her little jewel.
When her husband visited Jennie, he was strangely silent and looked worried and puzzled.
“My husband’s silence scared me; he just sat in shock as the doctor left, and I prodded for more info,” Jennie shared with Cafe Mom.
“He just kept saying, ‘It’s bad.’ What does that even mean? I thought in my head. He told me, ‘Jennie, I looked in her eyes, and she has the most beautiful soul.’”
Anna was diagnosed with harlequin ichthyosis, a rare condition that causes thick diamond-shaped plates that are separated by deep cracks. “As they tried frantically to help her, her skin hardened within seconds (of birth). After hardening, it began to split, causing open wounds all over her body,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
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Although doctors weren’t sure she would survive, Anna beat the odds and is thriving. “She was beauty in the purest form,” her mom said.
There isn’t cure, and the treatment is quite demanding as it requires constant baths and keeping the skin as much moisturized as possible. “Every couple of hours I covered her with Vaseline and bathed her for many hours of the day. I had dreamed for years about the things my baby would wear, and though it seemed so trivial, it was what I struggled with most,” Jennie said.
In an attempt to raise awareness about this condition, Jennie posts photos of Anna on her Instagram page harlequindiva. She opens up about the everyday struggles and what it is like to have a child with harlequin ichthyosis.
“Anna captured everyone’s hearts because she is the purest form of perfection. Doing the work every day is simple when I’m doing it for her, and with every new accomplishment, the world celebrates with me,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
She adds, “I now understand that I was given her because of the love I already carried in my heart for my daughter. Anna was meant for me, and I for her, and together we will show the world what true beauty is.”
A Navy Dad Returns Home to His Newborn Son, Turns To Face His Wife, And Says Four Unexpected Words
Military families face immense challenges each time a loved one is sent abroad. Saying farewell, maybe for the last time, is a painful reality for a lot of families.
The thought of possibly never seeing each other again is a frightening one. While on duty, military personnel have to make life-or-death decisions and keep track of the days until they can return home. Their families also have difficulties, managing day-to-day challenges without the support of a close one. Even with modern techniques like video calls, staying in contact while serving overseas may still be difficult.
This also happened to US Navy Lt. Michael Lemmons. While he was serving abroad, his wife gave birth to their son. Lemmons told this tale to the other twenty-seven crew members who had not witnessed the birth of their children. When they got back, they could not wait to greet their new family.
In a heartwarming video, Lemmons’s face smiles when he finds his wife waiting for him on the dock. He rushes to her side and finally gets to see his newborn child. She is hugging their adorable little child.
Overcome with emotion, Lemmons bursts out, “He’s perfect.” I am appreciative. He wanted to express his gratitude to his wife for supporting him during the difficult time of giving birth and for keeping the home well-run. He understands the challenges of being a single parent.
When his wife heard his heartfelt comments, she began to cry. She felt valued for everything she had accomplished, even while her spouse was serving the country. Her efforts were obviously significant, even though they weren’t as obvious.
Lemmons and his spouse cradled their infant in their embrace. Their family was complete now, and at last their relationship could heal. Knowing he wouldn’t have this much time to spend at home and that he would soon have to serve again, Lemmons relished spending time with his wife and new kid.
On YouTube, comments were encouraging regarding Lt. Lemmons’s touching reunion.
One reader said, “My husband was aboard the US Bataan when they were deployed for ten and a half months.” About 150 new fathers had been born to them by the time they got back home, and that figure did not include the Marines.
What do you think of the heartfelt reaction this Navy father had when he saw his newborn son?
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