Rebecca Callaghan’s pregnancy in 2012 was difficult, and due to extra fluid around the fetus, physicians chose to induce delivery early.
Nobody realized there was anything wrong with little Matilda until approximately half an hour after she was delivered.
When she arrived in the world, she had a large blue mark on her face that extended down one side of her body. Doctors initially thought it was only a bruise, but they soon discovered their major mistake.
Just 30 minutes later, physicians informed the parents that it was a birthmark.
Matilda was diagnosed with Sturge Weber’s syndrome two weeks after birth, a rare neurological skin disease that causes paralysis, learning impairments, and convulsions.
Matilda rapidly grew unwell and was admitted to the Adler Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England.
In just a few days, the parents’ joy had changed to deep concern. They weren’t sure if they’d see their daughter alive again.
“We couldn’t travel with her as she was so ill. As we stood watching her being taken away, we didn’t know if we were going to see her again. We’d been so excited at our baby’s arrival, now within a matter of hours we didn’t know whether we would even see her alive again,” her father told Daily Mail.
On top of everything else, they learned that Matilda had two holes in her heart.
But she was a real little fighter, and although there was a high chance that she wouldn’t survive, she managed to make it through surgery.
Matilda also started laser treatment to remove her odd birthmark. However, it could be up to 16 years before it is fully gone.
“She has treatment every couple of months, and the laser does make it look more red and angry, and her face is covered with blobs afterwards, which then gradually fade away again,” Matilda’s father Paul told The Daily Mail in 2016, adding
“People think we are bad parents – that we have somehow caused Matilda to look like she does.”
Despite the harsh laser treatments, Matilda was a very happy little girl.
But many people stared at Matilda and her birthmark. People even asked Paul and Rebecca whether they had left their daughter too close to a radiator and allowed her to get burned.
Matilda’s father, Paul, has stated: “They simply see what is in front of them and leap to terrible conclusions. I wish they could look past her birthmark and realize what a lovely little angel she is.”
Besides the birth mark on her face, the disease has also caused Matilda to become almost blind.
She also can’t walk, but thanks to a special walking frame, she’s been able to take a few steps herself.
Matilda’s whole life has been a fight, but despite that she has a smile for everyone she meets. Her dad says she’s a headstrong little girl: It’s either her way or no way at all!
Every day, the family has to put up with stares, insults and even outright mockery.
“Despite everything she has been through, she has a smile for everyone. She’s doing fantastically well,” her father said.
“We are unbelievably proud of Matilda, she is just amazing–we just live every day as a bonus.”
