Mary and Brad Kish were thrilled to welcome their baby girl into the world but were devastated when their daughter Michelle was diagnosed with a rare congenital disease. Michelle now 20, has dwarfism and suffers from a number of medical conditions and even though she has spent her life surrounded by this disease and its complications this has not dampened her spirit and will to live and this little warrior is fighting her condition bravely.
Woman Expected To Deliver A Healthy Baby, 20-Years Later Daughter Still Looks Like A Child
By
Samantha in
Heartbreaking
On 23rd January 2018
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#1 Giving Birth To A Baby Girl
Mary and Kish were all set to bring their daughter into the world in the late 90s. The couple was ecstatic when they were told they were going to give birth to a baby girl. The pregnancy went all smooth and there were no complications or infections.
#2 Rare Diagnosis
But the little girl born was different from normal babies. Michelle had round childlike features a beak-like nose and alopecia. Even the doctors were confused with the diagnosis, it wasn't until a geneticist made a diagnosis with the help of a book because the diagnosis was so rare that only 250 cases are reported worldwide.
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#3 Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome
The devasted parents were told their daughter is suffering from Hallermann-Streiff syndrome, this syndrome has an occurrence of 1 in 5 million which makes it very rare and hard to diagnose.
#4 Congenital Disease
Hallermann-Streiff syndrome is a congenital condition that is characterized by abnormalities of the skull and facial bones. This condition itself causes a number of medical conditions including cardiomyopathy, hearing deficit and vision impairment. The child relies on a feeding tube, ventilator, electronic wheelchair, and cane. Michelle also has dwarfism and makes up only to the waist of her two-year-old sister Sarah.
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#5 Fighters Spirit!
Michelle has spent 20 years of her life in the hospital with various illnesses, medications, and terrifying close calls. Despite being mistaken for a child at age 20, Michelle has a fighters spirit and to this date, the young girl is fighting her condition bravely.