Local Family Has Daughter Born Without a Face

First Coast News ^ | Created: 11/26/2004 12:03:06 PM, Updated: 12/7/2004 1:59:40 PM | Jeannie Blaylock, First Coast News

[AM2000]

Tom holds his daughter, Juliana

Tammy

Juliana is missing 30-40% of the bones in her face.

[Ditter]

Oh my God. The poor little girl. It doesn't mention a nose, how does she breathe?

[Angry Republican]

Wow. God bless the parents for loving her and not shunning her. Can anything be done about Treacher Collins Syndrome?

[AM2000]

Juliana has to eat through her stomach, and she has a trach to breathe.

[verity]

"God never gives you more than you can handle."

Tripe!

[anniegetyourgun]

Sounds like a couple whose faith is sustaining them. The child is so fortunate to have such loving parents who won't give up on her.

But, oh, this fallen world.....how I look forward to the new one - no longer marred and filled with sin and its effects.

[Miss Marple]

Bless these parents and their daughter! May God guide the surgeons as they construct this child's face.

[Alouette]

how does she breathe?

Trach tube.

[OldFriend]

We can pray for the parents. The dad certainly appears to be a saint.

[buffyt]

I just heard about this. So sad. My aunt has a cleft lip. She is about 80 now. So I am partial to people like this with facial deformities, because they remind me of my aunt.

Just like I am partial to people who have had a stroke and have paralysis, since my grandma had a stroke and was paralyzed on one side. Other people seem to avoid them or shun them because they aren't perfect. I am drawn to them.

People with those defects/affirmities are special to me because they remind me of special people in my family. God bless them all. I hope surgery is able to help that little girl to have enough of a face so that she can eat and breath, and maybe see, someday. She looks like she was perfect, the rest of her body.

[Puppage]

how does she breathe

and she has a trach to breath

[Lizavetta]

I know a family in which the baby was born essentially without a chin. They've been doing surgeries that somehow extend the lower jaw and bone somehow grows there. Eventually she will catch up and be normally formed somewhere around 5 or 6 years old.

[silent_jonny]

"God never gives you more than you can handle. I figure she has a lot to show everyone... to show the world," says Tom.

Every life is precious. God bless this girl and her family.

[silent_jonny]

Tripe?

[LibFreeOrDie]

More about this condition (examples of less severe cases, before-and-after photos):

http://www.kidsplastsurg.com/treachercollins.html

http://www.erlanger.org/craniofacial/book/treacher/treach1.htm

Here's the web site of one young woman with the condition who is an Internal Medicine and Pediatrics resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
http://www.treachercollins.org/main.html

[NYer]

"God never gives you more than you can handle. I figure she has a lot to show everyone... to show the world," says Tom.

All things happen for a reason. God bless this faithful family.

Donations can be made at ANY Vystar Credit Union to Juliana Wetmore at member number 2102465.

Direct donations can be sent to:

Juliana Wetmore
3018 Hickory Glenn Dr.
Orange Park, FL 32065

Catholic Ping - please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[MaryFromMichigan]

Poor little tyke.
Glad that she was blessed with parents that are appear loving and supportive.

[Viking2002]

My God, that poor kid. It's things like this that make you realize how small your own problems really are.

[Swede Girl]

Prayers for this family.