Sixteen-month-old Paisley was born with a rare genetic condition called Beckwith-Wiedemann that causes organs and body parts to overgrow. In her case, the tongue grew twice the size of her mouth.
A baby born with an adult-sized tongue can now smile and eat for the first time after undergoing a second life-changing surgery. Paisley Morrison-Johnson, from Aberdeen in South Dakota, US, was born with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, which causes overgrown organs or body parts and affects about 300 American newborns a year.
In her case, the tongue grew more than twice the size of her mouth because of which she had to be fed through a tube till she was six months old.
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In a moving Facebook post, her mother Madison Kienow, 21, wrote about the ordeal her now 16-month-old baby went through. She wrote, "Everything was perfect until 29 weeks when Paisley decided she wanted to join us in this world. Lots of chaos, doctors, nurses, tears, fear, unknown things happening and hearing the words your daughter will be flown to Sioux Falls without you due to her health. Not knowing any information just having faith that the staff will make sure I will be able to hold my princess for the first time soon."
"Try-monthly scans, blood draws, hourly sugar checks, oxygen, surgery after surgery, therapy and more therapy my princess is still with us. Everyday is a blessing to have her here with us enjoying life to its fullest." she wrote in the post raising awareness about BWS.
During her first on September 2nd, 2015 surgery the doctors clipped off two inches of her tongue, but that didn't help baby Paisley's condition. It was only after her second surgery which removed six inches of excess muscle, she could smile and eat for the first time.
In the GoFundMe page, set up to help pay for Paisley's medical costs, Madison wrote, I'm so scared yet so happy to know my princess will finally be pain free, and be able to smile and talk to me. This is a bittersweet moment because I'll miss that cute little tongue. This is a long recovery road ahead of us but Paisleys a little fighter, and God has his plan.'
Published By:
AtMigration
Published On:
Oct 14, 2016
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