Twenty-three-year-old Jaime Jenkins and her partner, Jakob
Lang, of Sydney, Australia, were looking forward to their first baby, but
already in the 12th week of pregnancy, the ultrasound showed that something was
not right. Agonizing weeks passed, during which the young, hopeful parents
planned for their shared future, but at the same time they didn't know what was
wrong with their unborn daughter.
Only a couple of weeks before the birth, doctors had to
confront Jaime with the cruel truth: that her daughter hadn't grown any lung
tissue and they advised that she terminate the pregnancy. "I could feel
her kicking and we'd already named her, there was no way I couldn't give her a
chance at life," said the young mother.
When Helena came into the world, the new parents prepared
themselves to say goodbye to her. The doctors saw no chance of survival for
her. But against all odds, she became stronger and stronger, surprising her
family and, even more, her doctors. After six weeks, the parents finally
learned their daughter's diagnosis: Helena suffered from a very rare form of
dwarfism.
Altogether, Helena evaded death three times, has had to
endure numerous operations, and spent the first three months of her life in
hospital. During this time, her parents learned how to properly look after her
because her special condition requires a lot of time, care, and knowledge.
In the meantime, Helena's parents have learned that they both
carry the same rare gene for dwarfism — even though they are both almost six
foot tall. They affectionately call their sweet daughter
"Thumbelina." They haven't decided whether they will add to their
family because there's a one in three chance of having another child with the
same disorder.
They often dress her up in fairy and princess dresses in
order to bring a ray of light into Helena's life and counterbalance the many
examinations she must endure. The small subject seems to bloom with the
attention because she smiles in every single photo. She even has an official
first modelling assignment, for which she has been given custom-made clothes.
She has also recently celebrated her first birthday.
Helena's parents share her story and the difficulties she must
face on her own Facebook page. "Helena has already amazed us in so many
ways, she's a real little miracle and I hope our story helps other parents who
are facing the same situation," Jaime said.
Helena has to go to the doctor for twice-monthly check-ups,
but in the time in between, her parents give their best to make her life
enjoyable and unforgettable. Hopefully, they'll continue to celebrate every
special milestone she achieves. And who knows? With her infectious smile, maybe
she'll become a famous model some day.
Source : Hefty