When Isla Wells was born she had bulging eyes, a misshapen skull and her fingers were fused together.
But her mother Kylie is determined her little girl will grow up knowing she is beautiful on the inside and out.
Isla, now two, was born with a rare genetic condition called Apert syndrome that resulted in deformities to her face, hands and feet.
Isla Wells, now two, was born with a rare genetic condition called Apert syndrome that resulted in deformities to her face, hands and feet.
All of Isla’s fingers are fused together, as well as her feet and parts of her skull where it shouldn’t be.
‘Apert syndrome comes from a fault in the gene that is responsible for making bone structures,’ Ms Wells explained.
‘That fault causes fusing of the bones. All of Isla’s fingers are fused together, as well as her feet and parts of her skull where it shouldn’t be.
‘It basically shows a lot of deformities in her face. Her eyes bulge out and it causes respiratory issues because the face is so sunken in.’
Ms Wells, from Tasmania, said her daughter was a bundle of joy despite the countless surgeries she has endured since her birth.
‘I’d be lost without her. She’s such a beautiful kid,’ she said.
‘She’s always smiling, always positive. Everything has been a bit on the down side for her.
‘So a bit of good luck would be really good. Maybe things are going to work out for her. Maybe she will get better and be able to do the stuff that other kids can do.’
Ms Wells is teaching her daughter to be confident about the way she looks.
Despite the shocked stares of some people who see Isla, Ms Wells is teaching her daughter to be confident about the way she looks.
‘I’m trying to teach both of my kids that everyone is different and beautiful in their own way,’ she said.
‘A lot of people have stared and poked fun at her and said things like they are scared of her.
‘We just don’t want her to feel that she is different. So we say they do that because she is so beautiful.’
‘I’m trying to teach both of my kids that everyone is different and beautiful in their own way,’ she said.
Ms Wells said her daughter was mischievous and ‘very cheeky’
Ms Wells said she has had her hands full with Isla since she had surgery to un-fuse her fingers.
‘She is a very mischievous kid. Now she’s got her fingers her hands are into everything.
‘She’ll crawl into her brother’s room and pull all his DVDs out. She’s very cheeky.’
Ms Wells said Isla and her brother Ty share a special bond
Despite the cheekiness, Isla and her brother Ty, 10, share a special bond.
‘They shared a bed when they were sick recently and they would cuddle up together,’ Ms Wells said.
‘He would leave and she would cry for him to stay there.’
Leave a Reply