Tomm Tennent: The unique baby born with enough skin for a five-year-old child đ
Over the years, we at Newsner have told many incredible stories about special children who survived against all odds. But few stories have touched the hearts of our readers as much as the case of Tomm Tennet.
As some may remember, Tomm was born with enough skin to cover a 5-year-old toddler. The little boy came into the world so wrinkled that doctors said they had never seen anything like it before.
âWhen he came out I was quite shocked (âŚ) I didnât think a human, or a little baby, could ever look like that,â Tommâs dad, Geoff Tennent, told 60 Minutes Australia in 2003.
Since his remarkable birth, it has been a long and winding journey for Tomm and his family â but if we look at him today, 2021, it is difficult not to shed a tear âŚ
A unique child
When Tomm Tennent was born, in South East Australia in 1993, his parents soon realized that he was going to be a special baby.
But before the birth, no one could have guessed that their boy would be described as a medical mystery. However, ultrasounds showed that not everything was how it should be.
When hearing this, Tommâs parents didnât know if they would keep the child.
âWe sort of discussed this between us, and we decided whatâs meant to be is meant to be and we went through with it,â Tommâs dad, Geoff Tennent, said.
Despite all the tests and routine examinations, no one could have imagined the severity of Tommâs condition. His parents admitted they were shocked upon seeing him for the first time.
Tommâs mom, Debbie Tennent, was shocked when her son was placed on her chest in the delivery room.
âMy heart came up to my throat, but at the same time it was lovely to pick him up and cuddle him,â she said.
In total, Tomm would spend two and a half months in a medical center, undergoing tests and analysis. Needless to say, scientists faced a huge challenge. Since Tomm was the first child on record born with so much skin, there were no precedents to turn to.
Of course, it was a very trying time for the Tennent family. No parent with a newborn baby wants to spend months at the hospital with all that entails. However, Geoff and Debbie, found energy when looking at their strong baby boy. Tomm always remained a lovable toddler, totally unaware of his condition.
Throughout this time, doctors continued to do everything in their power to find a solution to Tommâs medical problems. After digging deeper they finally discovered something unexpected. The experts saw similarities between the way the Tomm looked and the Chinese dog breed Shar Pei. That discovery led them to some answers.
Researchers discovered Tommâs level of Hyaluronic acid, found in skin, was 100 times higher than normal, which is also the case with Shar Pei puppies.
Given that the levels of Hyaluronic acid drop for Shar Peis as they grow up â leaving them with a more normal skin appearance â doctors hoped and prayed it would be the case for Tomm.