The story of the baby that defied all odds.
Imagine entering the world with the skin of a 5-year-old before taking your first breath. That is precisely what occurred to Tomm Tennent, leaving doctors absolutely surprised. His father couldn’t believe his eyes, and the years that followed were fraught with challenges, resilience, and intense emotions. But just wait until you meet Tomm today—his metamorphosis is nothing short of amazing!
The baby who shocked doctors at birth and grew up to inspire the world
Something genuinely exceptional took place in South East Australia in 1993. A kid named Tomm Tennent was born with a strange illness that left doctors stunned. Even before his birth, ultrasounds indicated something out of the ordinary, forcing his parents to make a difficult decision.
But Geoff Tennent, Tomm’s father, made a decision that changed everything. “We sort of discussed this between us, and we decided what’s meant to be is meant to be, and we went through with it,” he told me. And thus began Tomm’s extraordinary quest.
No amount of testing or examination could have prepared anyone for Tomm’s severe condition. The instant his parents saw him in the delivery room, they were stunned. Debbie Tennent, his mother, couldn’t believe what she saw as they placed him on her chest.
“My heart came up to my throat, but at the same time, it was lovely to pick him up and cuddle him,” Debbie told me. Doctors were completely perplexed by Tomm’s condition.
With no obvious reason, there was no treatment or solution in sight. Their only hope was that as he grew, he would settle into his skin and the lines would disappear.
Researchers eventually made a fascinating breakthrough about his condition.
Tomm was in the hospital for almost two and a half months, which made it difficult for researchers to grasp his condition.
Eventually, they discovered that he had an excess of hyaluronic acid in his body, just like Shar Pei puppies. However, his levels were well above the typical range. Surprisingly, Shar Peis lose this material as they mature, causing their skin to thicken. Doctors hoped the same would be true with Tomm.
Dr. Andrew Ramsden anticipated Tomm’s condition would improve as he got older, and he was correct! Tomm’s skin eventually adjusted, precisely as the doctor had intended.
However, growing up wasn’t easy. Tomm endured difficulties, including ridicule and being excluded from school due to his unusual appearance. He still had some minor physical differences, but they were far less noticeable than when he was born.
Meet Tomm as an adult.
Tomm was born more than thirty years ago, and doctors are still amazed by his adventure. While he maintains a modest profile on social media, peeks into his life indicate he is doing well.
On Facebook, Tomm appears to be happily married to Hannah and resides in Frankston, Victoria, Australia. His outlook on life appears to be as strong as ever, with the following simple yet powerful message on his profile: “Life is simple. You make choices and don’t look back.”
The birth of a baby is always a joyous occasion, bringing love and an instinct to protect the infant. Cristina and Blaize were overjoyed to welcome their newborn daughter, but their joy quickly turned to concern as physicians were confused by her unique illness.