Rebecca Callaghan faced a challenging pregnancy in 2012 when doctors decided to induce labor early due to excess fluid around her baby.
It wasn’t until about an hour after Matilda was born that any issues were suspected. Initially, a large blue mark on her face and extending down her body was mistaken for a bruise. However, just 30 minutes later, doctors informed Rebecca and her husband that it was, in fact, a birthmark.
Two weeks postpartum, Matilda was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome, a rare neurological condition associated with skin abnormalities that can lead to paralysis, learning difficulties, and seizures.
Matilda’s health quickly deteriorated, necessitating her transfer to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England. The parents’ joy transformed into deep anxiety, as they feared they might lose their newborn. “We couldn’t travel with her because she was so sick. Watching her taken away, we were terrified we’d never see her again”, her father shared with the Daily Mail.
Adding to their worries, they discovered Matilda had two heart defects. Despite the grim prognosis, she displayed remarkable resilience, successfully undergoing surgery. She also began laser treatments to address her unusual birthmark, a process that could take up to 16 hours to fully fade.
“She receives treatments every two months. The laser leaves her skin red and covered in blisters, which eventually heal”, her father, Paul, explained in a 2016 interview. He recounted the misconceptions from others, stating: “People assume we’ve somehow harmed her”.
Although these treatments are painful, Matilda is a cheerful child. Sadly, many stare at her or make hurtful remarks, even asking if her parents had caused her birthmark by allowing her to burn herself. “They only see the surface and make judgments. I wish they could see beyond the mole to the beautiful person she is”, Paul lamented.
In addition to her birthmark, Matilda faces vision challenges and struggles to walk. Yet, with the help of specialized equipment, she has taken steps on her own.
Despite her struggles, Matilda remains upbeat and resilient. “She’s incredibly stubborn; she’ll do things her way or not at all!” her father noted, emphasizing that she always greets others with a smile. The family regularly confronts stares, insults, and teasing, but they remain proud of Matilda. “Despite everything, she’s thriving”, her father said.
Now nine years old, Matilda’s family recently shared an updated photo of her in her wheelchair in June 2019. They have set up a fundraising page to raise £5,000 for a new wheelchair, enabling Matilda to enjoy her favorite activity: spending time outdoors, away from crowds. “We want to help her continue doing what she loves”, the page states.
Bride receives strange call in church – leaves immediately without a word
A lot of little girls dream about what their wedding day will be like. They always imagine what they will wear, what the band will play, and, of course, who their groom will be.
On Sarah Ray’s big day, she did something no one expected. Keep reading to know more.
Sarah Ray was all set for her big day in Tennessee. She was dressed in her beautiful white wedding gown and was ready to say her vows and make her fiance her husband.
But as the wedding was underway, the bride received a call. She attended the call and, without saying a word, rushed out of her wedding. No one understood what had happened.
She left the church filled with people waiting to attend her wedding. Her groom, who was waiting for her to walk down the aisle, decided to forgive her for her hasty exit. Perhaps because he knew that she must have had a good reason for doing so.
A picture that was shared by hundreds of people showed the bride running on the road in her wedding gown. The reason for her abruptly leaving is very understandable.
When she was about to walk down the aisle, she received an unfortunate phone call that informed her that her father and grandmother had been involved in a car accident. She knew she could not abandon her family and decided to make a run for it.
She grabbed a pair of flat shoes, put them on, and made her way to her family. Since Sarah was a nurse by profession, her instinct to save lives kicked in immediately, and she knew she had to rush to be by her family’s side in case they needed medical attention.
When she got to the scene of the accident, she realized that everything was alright. She was calmed down by learning that her family had not sustained any harm, as she had feared.
Together with her family, she arrived back at the church, so the wedding could go on as it needed to.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like to read about how a strange woman handed a father an envelope, and upon opening it, he immediately ran after her.
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