Eliza realized that the reaction to the birth of her daughter was not what she thought it would be.
Eliza Jamkochian Bahneman, who is 36, and her husband Erik, who is 41, have been trying to get pregnant for about nine months. Then, they got some great news. The woman was finally going to become a mother because she was pregnant.
She was as happy as any new mom. Eliza told her family right away about the wonderful news, and everyone was so happy for the couple.
At the time, all of Eliza’s sisters and cousins had their own kids, and she was glad to finally have one of her own.
At her age, it would have been hard for her to get pregnant, but a miracle happened. Eliza and her husband are very thankful for their blessing, which they now know will be a girl.
Everything was so amazing, and everyone couldn’t wait to meet the new family member in a few months.
Eliza was ready to give birth to her baby on the day she was due. But her baby, of course, had other plans.
Little Isabella, also called Bella, didn’t come out on her due date. Instead, she came out a month early. Even though their plans have changed, Eliza and Erik are ready for their daughter to come early.
In October 2018, after 12 hours of labor, Isabella was born. She was 512 pounds, but that wasn’t the only thing that made her different.
Eliza realized that the reaction to the birth of her daughter was not what she had expected. In her mind, a different scene played out, one where people cheered and smiled just for her and her baby.
It wasn’t the quiet and sad feeling she had after her baby was born. Later, she finds out that everyone’s strange reactions were for a reason.
When Eliza saw how the people in the delivery room were looking, her heart sank. They looked sad, confused, and unable to smile at the joy that had just come into their lives. And there was a reason for everything.
Bella was born with Treacher-Collins syndrome, a genetic condition that affects how the bones of the face grow and cause deformities.
Bella’s illness also caused other problems. The baby had hearing loss, a small jaw that was set back, microtia, a hard and soft cleft palate, and a small airway.
“When she was born, I noticed that one of her ears was folded really small, but I had heard that babies look funny when they are first born, so I didn’t think much of it. But when I looked around, I could tell something wasn’t right. No one congratulated me, and both my mother and husband looked scared and confused. The doctor left the room, and it was strangely quiet. I had no idea what was going on.”
But a mother’s love isn’t just about how she looks. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have, it always loves you.
Eliza finally held Isabella, and all she could think about was how happy she was to finally meet her daughter.
“I finally got to hold Isabella, and she didn’t look the same. But the moment I saw her, I fell in love with her and knew everything would be okay.”
Even though Isabella is different, her parents still love her the same. People will probably stare at their daughter because she has unusual features, but that won’t stop them from loving her.
“I knew my path to motherhood would be different. But I knew that my baby deserved a party. Eliza said, “I was ready to talk about her, answer questions, and bring attention to her illness.”
Isabella is still a happy and friendly child, despite her illness and how some people react to the way she looks.
“Isabella is so full of life, love, and energy. She is very smart and strong. Eliza says, “She loves being noticed and wants to learn. She is full of energy and so excited.”
Even though Isabella looks different, she is her parents’ pride and joy.