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.
How to Untangle Necklace Chains: A Simple Hack
Many of us struggle to keep our necklaces untangled, especially those of us who have small children at home. Allowing kids to play with our necklaces usually starts out innocently enough, but it soon spirals out of control into a tangled disaster. When it’s time to wear our favorite items, they frequently come up annoyingly knotted. But don’t worry—we have a simple fix that will spare you the trouble and effort!
Nobody wants to waste valuable time trying to untangle necklace chains. Each of us has more important things to do! Most of the time, we have a particular necklace in mind to go with our ensemble, so the last thing we need is to waste time tangle jewelry. This is where this nifty trick comes in handy.
You can easily disentangle any necklace chain with just a tiny bit of lubricant, two needles, and an opened safety pin. What’s the best thing, then? All of it is possible without having to leave your home! You will soon be able to wear your beloved necklaces again thanks to this simple and quick process.
This is how you do it:
1. Put a tiny bit of lubricant (cooking or baby oil) on the chain’s knotted section.
2. Gently pick apart the knots with two needles or an opened safety pin. Begin with the outside loops and proceed inside.
3. After the necklace begins to come loose, keep carefully pulling the knots apart until the chain comes free of all tangles.
This is definitely one of those hacks that we all love because it saves us money and time. It is not necessary to replace tangled jewelry with expensive pieces. You may prevent the frustration of having to untangle your necklaces every time you want to wear them by using this easy do-it-yourself technique to keep your necklaces in pristine form.
Make sure to tell your friends and family about this wonderful advice. They will be appreciative of it!
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