At Newsner, we’re fascinated by unusual stories and people who stand out from the crowd. We celebrate the beauty of each other’s differences. After all, there is no one in this wide world who looks exactly like you or has the same characteristics as you.
However, some people have unusual personalities. Meet Abigail Lee, a 4-year-old girl from Louisiana, USA. She attracts the attention of many people with her appearance. Abigail was born with a rare disease. Therefore, her life will be different from most children her age.
At age 2, Abigail weighed only 6.5 pounds. Due to her frail frame, she was unable to wear anything other than her newborn clothes. Even before Abigail was born, her parents, Emily and Brian, knew their daughter was different.
An ultrasound during Emily’s pregnancy revealed that Abigail was not growing as expected. Eventually, her growth stopped completely and she had to be delivered prematurely by Caesarean section.
Abigail weighed only 3.5 pounds at her birth and she remained that size for eight weeks. Emily and Brian were understandably upset by the situation and sought medical help. After several weeks in the hospital, Abigail was diagnosed with a rare disease called Primary Osseous Dysplastic Microcephaly Type II (MOPD Type 2).
“I wasn’t meant to be a special needs mom, I wasn’t given a special child because I am some sort of ultra special…”
“When I was pregnant, she was always three weeks behind in her development,” Emily shares. “I had a c-section at 36 weeks, and she was immediately taken to the intensive care unit. She exhibited normal breathing and eating patterns, but she was incredibly small. When she was diagnosed, we had never heard of this type of ‘dwarfism,’ so we had absolutely no idea what it was.”
Abigail’s condition means that she is not expected to grow any taller than 60 centimeters (23 inches). As a result, she can only wear clothes designed for newborns. Emily wonders what they will do when Abigail is old enough to express her desire to wear something other than bodysuits. Emily compares Abigail’s size to her best friend’s two-year-old, and the contrast is truly astonishing.
Despite the challenges that lie ahead, we wish Abigail all the very best in her journey. We commend Emily and Brian for embracing this unique challenge and providing unwavering support to their daughter.
