Rebecca Callaghan faced a challenging pregnancy in 2012 when doctors decided to induce labor early due to excess fluid around her baby.
It wasn’t until about an hour after Matilda was born that any issues were suspected. Initially, a large blue mark on her face and extending down her body was mistaken for a bruise. However, just 30 minutes later, doctors informed Rebecca and her husband that it was, in fact, a birthmark.
Two weeks postpartum, Matilda was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome, a rare neurological condition associated with skin abnormalities that can lead to paralysis, learning difficulties, and seizures.
Matilda’s health quickly deteriorated, necessitating her transfer to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England. The parents’ joy transformed into deep anxiety, as they feared they might lose their newborn. “We couldn’t travel with her because she was so sick. Watching her taken away, we were terrified we’d never see her again”, her father shared with the Daily Mail.
Adding to their worries, they discovered Matilda had two heart defects. Despite the grim prognosis, she displayed remarkable resilience, successfully undergoing surgery. She also began laser treatments to address her unusual birthmark, a process that could take up to 16 hours to fully fade.
“She receives treatments every two months. The laser leaves her skin red and covered in blisters, which eventually heal”, her father, Paul, explained in a 2016 interview. He recounted the misconceptions from others, stating: “People assume we’ve somehow harmed her”.
Although these treatments are painful, Matilda is a cheerful child. Sadly, many stare at her or make hurtful remarks, even asking if her parents had caused her birthmark by allowing her to burn herself. “They only see the surface and make judgments. I wish they could see beyond the mole to the beautiful person she is”, Paul lamented.
In addition to her birthmark, Matilda faces vision challenges and struggles to walk. Yet, with the help of specialized equipment, she has taken steps on her own.
Despite her struggles, Matilda remains upbeat and resilient. “She’s incredibly stubborn; she’ll do things her way or not at all!” her father noted, emphasizing that she always greets others with a smile. The family regularly confronts stares, insults, and teasing, but they remain proud of Matilda. “Despite everything, she’s thriving”, her father said.
Now nine years old, Matilda’s family recently shared an updated photo of her in her wheelchair in June 2019. They have set up a fundraising page to raise £5,000 for a new wheelchair, enabling Matilda to enjoy her favorite activity: spending time outdoors, away from crowds. “We want to help her continue doing what she loves”, the page states.
Matthew McConaughey says Woody Harrelson might be his brother after a confession from his mom.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are famous actors who have been in the spotlight for many years. They’ve been close friends and even starred together in the popular show “True Detective” in 2014, where their on-screen chemistry felt like a brotherly bond.
It turns out, their connection might be deeper than just friendship. Could their realistic performances have been influenced by a truth they didn’t know at the time?
According to McConaughey, he and Woody Harrelson might actually be real brothers. Not just close friends or like brothers, but actual brothers by blood.
According to Metro, McConaughey says he and Harrelson might be siblings. His mom revealed something that makes this hard to ignore.
McConaughey, who is 53 and starred in “Dallas Buyers Club,” said his mom hinted she knew Harrelson’s father well, suggesting they might have had a close relationship in the past.
McConaughey shared on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast that his mom dropped this surprising news while his and Harrelson’s families were on vacation in Greece together.
The Interstellar actor shared that one day they were talking about how people often confuse him and Harrelson in photos.
“A few years ago in Greece, we were sitting around talking about how close we are and our families,” McConaughey said.
“My mom was there and she said, ‘Woody, I knew your dad.’ Everyone noticed the pause after ‘knew.’ It was a loaded K-N-E-W.”
After hearing this, McConaughey decided to investigate his family history. He found out that while his parents were going through their second divorce, Harrelson’s father was on furlough.
Santiago Felipe / Contributor
Harrelson, who is 63, suggested they get DNA tests, but McConaughey isn’t sure.
McConaughey said, “It’s easier for Woody to say, ‘Let’s do DNA tests,’ because he doesn’t have much to lose. For me, it’s harder because it might mean that my dad isn’t really my dad after believing that for 53 years. I have more at stake.”
Harrelson’s father was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1973 for murdering a grain dealer, which Harrelson learned about from a radio broadcast.
The Hunger Games star told The Guardian: “I was waiting in the car for someone to pick me up from school. I was listening to the radio, and they were talking about a trial involving someone named Charles V Harrelson for murder. I thought, ‘There can’t be another Charles V Harrelson. That’s my dad!’”
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