Seeing your newborn child for the very first time is a special and unique moment. You could say it’s the first time that you meet your own reflection. When Vanessa’s daughter Emmy was born, the little girl seemed to have a permanent smile on her face. But when her mother took a closer look and saw that her fingers were turned inward, she reached out to some doctors.
Smiling since birth
Several weeks after birth, Emmy kept smiling, just like at her birth. Naturally, Vanessa assumed her child was just happy, but when she noticed that her fingers were turned inward in a strange shape, she began to suspect that something was wrong. The mother contacted some doctors, but they said there was nothing wrong and that she was looking for problems that weren’t there. That’s according to The Mirror.
Still, Vanessa followed her gut feeling, and began to do her own research. It was then that she discovered that crooked fingers could indicate some syndromes. Being dismissed by the doctors earlier was a tough blow.
Seeking specialist after being rejected
After eight days in the hospital, Emmy and Vanessa were allowed to return home, but despite the doctors’ negligence, Vanessa did not give up. So she decided to consult a specialist to examine Emmy. That specialist diagnosed her with Williams syndrome. “People with Williams syndrome typically have a combination of distinctive facial features, heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) problems, and mild to moderate intellectual disability and learning problems,” according to the website Williamssyndrom.se.
Since 2013, Emmy has undergone several heart surgeries, but according to her mother, she is doing well. “My best days with Emmy are not the days when we take day trips to Disneyland, but when we just lie on the sofa and watch TV on rainy days,” she says.
Wish for her daughter
Vanessa says that many people look at her daughter strangely because she is always smiling, but she wants to emphasize that like any child, she has feelings. “I would love it if Emmy could one day learn to drive, go to college, and get married if she wants,” she says. “I want her to have a job she can be proud of, feel valued, and develop good and meaningful friendships. But above all, I want her to be happy.”
Well done for not giving up, Vanessa! A mother’s instinct is seldom wrong. You deserve the best, Emmy, truly!
