A NEW mum says she "mourned the perfect child" after her baby daughter was diagnosed with albinism at three months old.
Holly Dunlea, from Cork, Ireland, gave birth to Ellie Jestin last October, but it wasn’t until 12 weeks later that she was diagnosed with the condition.
Holly, 21, who fell pregnant unexpectedly, says the midwife told her she was “having a blonde baby”, but then quickly said “actually, it’s kind of white”.
The new mum wrote on Facebook: “Not reading into it, Ellie was placed on my chest and my mum was called in.
“She says to this day, she knew Ellie was ‘albino’ the minute she set eyes on her white head.”
Holly, a part-time model, said midwives from across the ward came to see "the baby with the white hair".
Initially albinism was ruled out, as Ellie’s dad, Ronan, was fair.
Hollie said: “But the day we were going home, they said it was very possible considering Ellie had no pigment in her eyes.
“Basically they were translucent. On her chart, her eye colour was stated ‘honey’.”
Hollie soon realised Ellie wasn’t hitting visual milestones, and was still unable to see shadows at six weeks old.
Then when Ellie was three months old, Hollie received the official diagnosis from doctors, Oculocutaneous Albinism.
She said: “As we’re being honest here, I was devastated!”
What is albinism?
Albinism is a rare genetic condition, and there are two types; ocular albinism and oculocutaneous albinism.
It’s estimated one in 17,000 people has the condition in the UK.
The NHS says: “Albinism affects the production of melanin, the pigment that colours skin, hair and eyes. It's a lifelong condition, but it doesn't get worse over time.
“People with albinism have a reduced amount of melanin, or no melanin at all. This can affect their colouring and their eyesight.
“Albinism is caused by faulty genes that a child inherits from their parents.”
Symptoms include white or very light hair, eye colour, poor eyesight, as well as skin which is prone to sunburn.
Ellie’s condition means she may be classed as legally blind when she’s older, and will need to wear glasses and may use a cane, as well as needing to sunscreen daily.
Hollie told RSVP Live: “It was as if I mourned the ‘perfect child’.
“I know there is so much worse out there. But this, for me, was heartbreaking to hear.
“I didn’t want people to now look at her as ‘the albino’.”
Sharing the news on social media, Hollie said she initially began to hide her daughter's albinism.
Hollie said: “Why am I making it out to be a big problem when it’s most definitely not?
“Yes Ellie’s eyesight is not as strong as other babies her age but she can see ME so what’s wrong?
“Yes Ellie has to wear sun cream everyday but we all should?
"Yes glasses won’t ‘make Ellie see’ but the tint helps to take off the glare and her sunglasses are the coolest.
“Yes Ellie has no pigment in her hair, skin and eyes but how GORGEOUS is she!!!!
I didn’t want people to now look at her as ‘the albino’
“She deserves to be known all over for how incredible, beautiful and unique she is.”
The new mum now loves her daughter's striking white locks, and say she receives compliments from people.
Hollie is also trying to turn comments from strangers into positive ones.
The new mum is now planning on running a mini marathon for a charity which helps sight loss in children, and has set up a fundraising page.
She said: “I am now stronger than I have ever been and I am ready to tackle whatever life throws at Ellie and our family.”
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While this mum-of-two shared her tips for halving the time it takes to do laundry.
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