At Newsner, we’re drawn to unusual stories and personalities that set us apart. We celebrate the beauty of each other’s differences. After all, no one in this wide world looks exactly like you or has the same characteristics as you. However, some people have unusual personalities.
Meet Abigail Lee, a 4-year-old girl from Louisiana, USA. She attracts the attention of many people with her appearance. Abigail was born with a rare disease. Therefore, her life will be different from most children her age. At age 2, Abigail weighed only 6.5 pounds.
Due to her frail frame, she was unable to wear anything other than her newborn clothes. Even before Abigail was born, her parents, Emily and Brian, knew their daughter was different. An ultrasound during Emily’s pregnancy revealed that Abigail was not growing as expected. Eventually, her growth stopped completely and she had to be delivered prematurely by Caesarean section.
Abigail weighed only 3.5 pounds at her birth and she remained that size for eight weeks. Emily and Brian were understandably upset by the situation and sought medical help. After several weeks in the hospital, Abigail was diagnosed with a rare disease called Primary Osteodysplastic Microcephaly Type II (MOPD Type 2). “I wasn’t supposed to be a special needs mother. I wasn’t given a special child because I’m special…”
emily lee
“When I was pregnant, she was always three weeks late,” says Emily. “I had a Caesarean section at 36 weeks and she was immediately taken to intensive care. She was breathing and eating normally, but she was incredibly small. When she was diagnosed, we had never heard of this type of “dwarfism” so we had no idea what it was.
Abigail’s illness means she is no taller than 60 centimeters (23 inches). Therefore, you can only wear newborn clothes. Emily wonders what they will do once Abigail is old enough to express a desire to wear something other than a bodysuit. Emily compares Abigail’s height to her best friend’s two-year-old, and the contrast is quite striking.
Despite the challenges ahead, we wish Abigail every success on her journey. Thank you Emily and Brian for accepting this unique challenge and providing unwavering support to our daughter.
