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.
\
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 Love Story That Will Warm Your Heart
Keith Urban, the talented and charming musician from Australia, has stolen the hearts of millions. But it’s his love story with actress Nicole Kidman that truly captivates us. In a 2007 interview with Vanity Fair, Kidman revealed that she was secretly engaged to someone else when she first met Urban in 2005. Fate had a different plan, though, as the two fell in love and got engaged just three months later.
Kidman admitted that they didn’t truly know each other until after they were married, but there was an undeniable connection between them from the start. “Meeting at a certain age makes a difference. And I trust my gut instinct,” she said. “From the first minute I met him, there was a feeling of, Ahhh OK, somehow I’ve met home. And he had the same feeling. That was all we had but that was the essence of what we worked from.”
Their love story blossomed, and together they welcomed two beautiful girls into the world. But Urban’s journey to becoming the man he is today was also shaped by the influence of his late father, Robert. Sadly, Robert lost his battle with prostate cancer, a disease that also affected other members of Urban’s family, including his uncles.In 2018, to honor his father’s memory and raise awareness about prostate cancer, Urban attended the “It’s A Bloke Thing” luncheon in Toowoomba. His dedication to the cause was evident as he performed at a fundraiser for prostate cancer awareness, offering his talents for free. The event was a huge success, raising a record-breaking $2,024,000.
These selfless acts exemplify the kind of person Keith Urban is. Not only is he a gifted musician, a loving spouse, and a devoted parent, but he also has a heart of gold. His passion for raising awareness about prostate cancer shows his commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
Let’s celebrate Keith Urban, the man who has touched our hearts with his music and his kind spirit. Share this article with your family and friends on Facebook to spread the love and admiration for this incredible artist. Together, we can make a difference!
Leave a Reply