Every soon-to-be parent hopes that their child will be born healthy and grow up to be happy. Regretfully, Paul and Rebecca Callaghan were not as fortunate.
Due to complications during pregnancy, their daughter had to be born early. Unfortunately, until the baby was born, neither the parents nor the physicians realized how serious her situation was.
Little Matilda Rose Callaghan continues to struggle despite having experienced a great deal in her life. However, she is a courageous young woman with supportive parents.
Doctors saw Matilda’s face was covered in red and dark blue marks as soon as she was born. At first, they believed them were simply birth-related bruises, but that was incorrect. The marks weren’t going to go away; they were something much more serious.
Matilda required numerous procedures in the early days of her life. She even had to be revived by medics after she stopped breathing twice. They eventually discovered that the baby’s Trachea Oesophageal Fistula (TOF) and Sturge Weber Syndrome were the cause of the markings on her face. An excess of capillaries close to the skin’s surface causes this syndrome, a neurological condition marked by characteristic port-wine stains on the forehead, scalp, or around the eye.
Unfortunately, Matilda would suffer from glaucoma, seizures, left-sided weakness, and even learning difficulties as a result of these disorders.
Her birthmarks need laser treatments to prevent them from spreading and affecting her brain or other organs.
Matilda’s face bears polka-dot marks from the treatments she must endure till she is sixteen. Although they go away in about three weeks, her face is frequently covered with dots because she has laser treatments every two months.
Strangers stare at her whenever she is out with her parents, which makes them both uneasy because they assume the marks are from abuse and beatings.
Every time their daughter is ridiculed, the Callaghans are devastated. Although they are conscious that she is far too young to understand her condition, they worry that as she ages, her confidence may be significantly impacted.
Matilda’s father says, “They just see what is in front of them and jump to hurtful conclusions,” and he wants people to understand the reality behind his daughter’s appearance. She is a beautiful little angel, and I wish people could look past the blemish.
Although Matilda struggles to communicate and cannot walk alone, her parents try their hardest to provide her the best life possible. They are there to support her in her fight, and they adore her unconditionally.
They want others to understand the challenges they face every day, which is why they tell her story.
