A woman was thrilled when she found out she was expecting a child, but little did she know he’d be born looking very different. The child’s doctors didn’t even expect him to survive because of his rare condition, but he proved them wrong.
Anna Ciesielska, like most pregnant women, couldn’t wait to welcome her baby. However, things took a different turn when she saw her newborn baby, Michal Winter, for the first time a few hours after the delivery.
The mother recalled being upset when she first saw her baby. Her baby was born with a rare skin condition that made him look very different from other babies. Moreover, the doctors weren’t too hopeful about his chances of survival.
Michal was born with Harlequin ichthyosis, which caused his skin to have thick, hard scales. Besides having scaly skin on his face, the newborn baby’s mouth remained open because of the tightness of his skin, making it impossible for him to nurse.
Looking at her son for the first time, Anna felt heartbroken because she thought her little one was in pain. At the time, she had no idea about his condition or how long he would live. She recounted:
“It was a huge shock. I thought I was going to have a healthy baby. Not even the doctors at first knew what was wrong with him.”
As time passed, Michal’s parents became familiar with his condition and learned how to deal with it. However, they didn’t know that taking their son out in public would be a struggle.
When the doctors first saw Michal and ran tests on him, they told Anna her baby wouldn’t live past a few weeks.
Whenever Anna took her son out in public, she would notice people staring at him. While some passersby would only look at Michal’s skin, others would approach the mother and ask her if she needed help.
“Michal is a perfectly normal boy with a wonderful nature, he just has this skin condition,” the young mother said. For Anna, her baby was the most precious person, and watching people stare at him made her feel terrible. She expected them to treat him like other babies, but they upset her by asking uncomfortable questions. She recalled:
“I was in a shop, and someone came up to us and was staring at Michal and asked if he was a doll.”
The mother also revealed she saw the stranger’s expression change when Michal moved. The person believed Anna’s son was a doll because of his skin condition and expected him to stay still.
Despite receiving unusual treatment, little Michal continued meeting new people or exploring the outdoors. He was eager to live like other children his age, and his parents wanted the same for him.
Anna and her husband, Sebastian, planned to buy a hydrotherapy bath for their little one because it would allow him to care for his skin. Since it was an expensive purchase, the couple could only afford it after raising money. They hoped it would help their son take care of himself.
Michal’s rare skin condition demanded extra care, which meant Anna had to follow a strict skincare routine for him. She did everything possible to ensure her son’s skin was always at its best.
When the doctors first saw Michal and ran tests on him, they told Anna her baby wouldn’t live past a few weeks. He was prone to infections because of his scaly skin and was at risk of dehydration. However, Anna said:
“He’s overcome so much, and despite the challenges he faces, he’s such a happy and loving child.”
Caring for her baby was nothing short of a challenge for the mother. She revealed she applies two creams on her baby’s skin six times a day besides giving him a special moisturizing bath. Moreover, she minimizes his sun exposure as much as possible and maintains a comfortable temperature indoors.
Anna has to look after Michal’s skin to ensure it doesn’t get too dry because that would hurt him. It gets challenging for her to set the right temperature for him and keep him away from sunlight to avoid skin burns.
The mother must also ensure she doesn’t expose him to viruses because Michal can fall sick easily. However, she said she is lucky to have helpful people who ease things for her. While people in public places stop and look at Michal, people online also post comments that Anna doesn’t like.
The Online Reaction and What Michal Looks Like Now
When online news outlets picked Michal’s story and shared how people treated him, netizens couldn’t help but share their views in the comments section. Here’s what they said:
“He is so cute. People should look at themselves sometimes.”
― (Wendy Earle) December 10, 2019
“People are so cruel. He’s beautiful, and that smile is gorgeous.”
― (@Caroline Herety) December 10, 2019
“That smile lights up a room. Beautiful!”
― (@Jackie Whitehouse Harris) December 9, 2019
Despite the doctors telling him he wouldn’t survive more than a few weeks, little Michal continues to live a happy life with his family. He is like other children his age and loves mingling with new people.
On September 19, 2023, the young boy defied the odds by turning six! His parents celebrated the milestone by sharing several Facebook pictures showing how beautiful their son has become. They noted how proud they are of him for doing “so well” despite his challenges.
Sebastian and Anna urged their son to continue smiling his infectious smile and wished him health and many friends and that he continuously succeeds at school. In late February 2023, Michal’s parents shared a Facebook picture of him holding his school bag, seemingly ready to go to school.
Followers rushed to share their support with one person, noting how the little boy looked “wonderful.” Someone else thought Anna’s son is such a “cutie,” while another social media user added:
“Such a handsome young man.”
Responding to an October 2023 Facebook post of Anna sharing a loving kiss with her son while bathing him, several people described the scene as “beautiful.” Michal’s story teaches us that things might not look hopeful sometimes, but you must stay strong, try your best, and trust fate’s plans.
Everything eventually turns out okay, just like it did in Michal’s case. Click here to read another story about a baby born with a hair condition that made her one of only a hundred people in the world with it.
