Those nine months a mom carries her baby are filled with joy, anticipation, and a dose of uncertainty. What the new parents hope for is their bundle of joy to be healthy. Sadly, that is not always the case.
Jennie Wilklow, from Highland, New York, couldn’t wait to meet her daughter. She and her husband were over the moon to hold her in their arms. All the ultrasounds and doctor’s appointment suggested the baby was healthy, so they were eased and never thought sweet Anna would be born with a condition that would change all of their lives forever.
Jennie delivered Anna via C-section at 34 weeks. Doctors told her she looked beautiful and that was all Jennie needed to hear at that point.
Shortly after, the proud mom heard her daughter cry, and that was just another sign that everything was right with her little jewel.
When her husband visited Jennie, he was strangely silent and looked worried and puzzled.
“My husband’s silence scared me; he just sat in shock as the doctor left, and I prodded for more info,” Jennie shared with Cafe Mom.
“He just kept saying, ‘It’s bad.’ What does that even mean? I thought in my head. He told me, ‘Jennie, I looked in her eyes, and she has the most beautiful soul.’”
Anna was diagnosed with harlequin ichthyosis, a rare condition that causes thick diamond-shaped plates that are separated by deep cracks. “As they tried frantically to help her, her skin hardened within seconds (of birth). After hardening, it began to split, causing open wounds all over her body,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
\
Although doctors weren’t sure she would survive, Anna beat the odds and is thriving. “She was beauty in the purest form,” her mom said.
There isn’t cure, and the treatment is quite demanding as it requires constant baths and keeping the skin as much moisturized as possible. “Every couple of hours I covered her with Vaseline and bathed her for many hours of the day. I had dreamed for years about the things my baby would wear, and though it seemed so trivial, it was what I struggled with most,” Jennie said.
In an attempt to raise awareness about this condition, Jennie posts photos of Anna on her Instagram page harlequindiva. She opens up about the everyday struggles and what it is like to have a child with harlequin ichthyosis.
“Anna captured everyone’s hearts because she is the purest form of perfection. Doing the work every day is simple when I’m doing it for her, and with every new accomplishment, the world celebrates with me,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
She adds, “I now understand that I was given her because of the love I already carried in my heart for my daughter. Anna was meant for me, and I for her, and together we will show the world what true beauty is.”
Unlocking the Complexity of this Heart-Wrenching Decision
When a man makes the difficult choice to leave his wife for another woman, the reasons behind it are often complex and multi-layered. In this article, we will explore some common factors that can lead to this challenging decision. Let’s dive deeper into the emotions and circumstances that may contribute to such a heart-wrenching choice.
Feeling appreciated is a fundamental need in any relationship, regardless of age. It’s about acknowledging and showing gratitude for your partner’s efforts. When a man feels unappreciated, unnecessary, or disrespected, it creates an emotional gap. This gap can drive him to seek validation and importance from another woman, ultimately straining the marriage.
Emotional intimacy is not just about physical connections. It’s about feeling understood, loved, and deeply connected to your partner. When emotional intimacy fades, a man may feel emotionally distant and detached. This can cause him to drift away and seek warmth, love, laughter, and respect elsewhere, finding solace in the company of another woman.
Sexual intimacy is more than just a physical act. It fosters feelings of attachment, trust, and commitment. When sexual intimacy diminishes, a void can be created, leading a man to look outside the marriage to fulfill his needs. Seeking an affair might be an attempt to reconnect on a sexual level, even if only for a short period.
As time passes, the initial excitement of a newlywed phase can fade. Routines settle in and life becomes busier, causing the spark to diminish. When a man feels that the marriage has become monotonous and lacks excitement, he may crave new experiences and passion. This desire for novelty and excitement can push him to seek these feelings with another woman.
These factors all contribute to a man’s decision to leave his wife for someone else, and it’s important to understand them. However, it’s equally important to remember that communication, appreciation, emotional and sexual intimacy, and keeping the relationship vibrant and exciting can help prevent such heart-wrenching decisions. By working together, couples can navigate these challenges and strengthen the bonds within their marriage.
Leave a Reply