A baby girl who ‘never stops smiling’ is living with a rare skin condition that makes her skin crack

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.”

King Charles’s funeral plans being updated in light of cancer treatment – ‘It’s not good,’ claims insider

King Charles III is revising his funeral plans following a cancer diagnosis, discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate. Despite continuing state duties amid regular treatments, insider reports suggest his health is more serious than publicly known.

This has prompted updates to ‘Operation Menai Bridge,’ the protocol for his funeral, similar to the plans following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – APRIL 30: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) King Charles III visits the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and highlight some of the innovative research, supported by Cancer Research UK, which is taking place at the hospital on April 30, 2024 in London, England. The visit marks King Charles’ first day as the new Patron of Cancer Research UK and is his first official public-facing engagement since being diagnosed with cancer. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Amid these health concerns, dynamics within the Royal Family are also highlighted as Prince Harry visited his father post-diagnosis.

Speculation arises that Charles might seek a reconciliation, possibly inviting Harry and Meghan to Balmoral for a family reunion, emphasizing his wish to see his grandchildren.

These developments reflect both Charles’s personal challenges and his ongoing commitment to his royal responsibilities as he navigates his health issues.

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