'When she was born she didn't look like a human': Baby suffers rare genetic condition WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGES

'It's a miracle she's alive.'

Harper Foy is the youngest person in the world suffering Harlequin Ichthyosis, a rare genetic condition that creates hard, thick skin that forms diamond-shaped plates.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Unfortunately for little Harper, her condition has resulted in more than just thicker skin and plates.

None of the tests or ultrasounds conducted on her mother revealed the condition so her appearance at birth startled doctors and her parents.

"It's a miracle she's alive," Harper's mother, Angie, told Daily Mail. "We had no idea she had the condition until she was born, we were so shocked."

When Harper was born, doctors rushed her to the intensive care unit (ICU). Skin tissue had built up, resulting in the loss of circulation to her feet and hands.

The poor little girl's extremities were swollen and discolored at birth, with plaques of skin buildup leaving her with an otherworldly appearance.

"When she was born she didn't look like a human, she looked like an alien. It was very traumatic," Angie recalled.

In the ICU, the skin was carefully removed and Harper was tenderly administered to but she lost the tips of four fingers.

She was kept in the hospital for a month as she fought off infections and doctors realized her skin was regrowing ten times faster than normal, resulting in her skin shedding every four hours.

There is currently no cure for Harlequin Ichthyosis but Harper's skin is treated with "long" soaks in the tub.

Doctors didn't expect Harper to survive long, leaving her heartbroken parents desperate and afraid.

"Every day we just didn't know if she would make it. She was on [a] feeding tube and she had an infection, and that's the thing that kills a lot of these kids."

Though the outlook was grim, the amazing little girl will be celebrating her first birthday soon, leaving the Foy family both ecstatic and concerned.

"I fear for her when she is older, you know, not looking like a normal kid," Angie explained. "She's going to have problem[s] with her eyes and mobility. She will never be able to play contact sports but that's the most part.

"She's just started sitting up - it's hard for her. She won't walk for a year and she'll need physical therapy. She's getting bigger. She's gaining weight and eating a ton. But she doesn't sleep very well at all. She will scratch at her self [sic]

Harper will be one on September first and the family hopes to gift her a special tub to help her skin as she grows up.

The Microsilk tub, which uses microbubbles to allow 70 percent more oxygen than regular water, will help keep Harper's skin hydrated. Unfortunately, it  must be ordered from Japan and will cost $6,000 with another $15,000 to install.

"She's almost a year, it's such a big milestone," Angie stated. "We will have to mark the day with friends and family. We're hoping to get this bath tub for her. That would be a really great gift. Right now we are giving her four baths a day. She loves it.

"With the Microsilk baths the temperature stays the same so she can sit it in for an hour and it regulates. It's expensive but she will have it forever."

To raise the necessary funds, plus the cost of electrical and flooring work in their 1950's home, the Foys have created a GoFundMe account, where they have raised over $7,000 of their $25,000 goal.

Please pray for Harper and her family.
Lord, we ask you to keep your hand on little Harper and her parents.
Fully cover them in your peace and healing.
Thank you, Father, for your never ending blessings and mercies.
Amen.

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