Tessa Evans, the girl born without a nose, was born on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Her family and others all over the world love and praise her every day.
Tessa’s illness is shared by less than 100 people worldwide. Her mother admires her “charming” personality and “infallible courage.”
Eight years after being the first person to have nose implants, Tessa is strong and living her best life. She will not allow her situation prevent her from “doing anything.”
People When their Valentine’s Day baby was born without a nose, Grainne and Nathan Evans were taken aback. Their pregnancy had been typical, with no signs of complications.
Tessa was born without a nose due to Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome (BAMS) in Maghera, Ireland.
According to the National Institutes of Health, less than 100 occurrences of this illness have ever been documented in medical history.
It’s also difficult to fix because the sickness is so rare.
Tessa can’t smell or breathe through her nose, yet she can cough, sneeze, and catch a cold.
“It was funny the very first time she sneezed, but we actually found out that it actually comes from your chest,” Nathan, the child’s father, said. “However, having that wee bit of normality was quite nice.”
Tessa struggled during her first few weeks of life. She spent five weeks in intensive care.
She had surgery to insert a tracheostomy tube into her mouth when she was less than two weeks old, allowing her to eat and sleep normally.
Tessa was the first person to have a cosmetic nose implant placed to assist compensate for her lost limb. She was only two years old at the time.
People who require a nose prosthesis usually have it done as teenagers, when their faces have finished growing.
Her parents claimed that they had the operation while she was young so that she wouldn’t need any more invasive procedures in the future.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision for all of us, we love Tessa so much and thought she was completely beautiful the way she was,” she said. “We ultimately decided to go ahead as it was a chance to gradually change her appearance over the years and to normalise her profile without ever cutting her face.”
Tessa’s face surgery will be completed when she reaches 13, and Grainne describes the lengthy process: “They say once they have the final, nuanced nose in place that they will then get a medical tattoo artist to tattoo in light and shade to make the more detailed contours of her nose.” She went on to say, “They can then dimple in the nostrils and shade them to look real.”
Grainne, a mother of three, wanted to spend every minute of her baby’s rehabilitation with her after making the difficult decision.
“It was very stressful though, as I had never spent a night apart from Tessa, and it was quite soul-destroying to leave her side each evening at 11 p.m.” Grianne continued, “I was comforted by the fact I was a phone call away and could be there in just a few minutes. Whatever happened, I would be by her side when she woke up the next day. And that was a gift.”
Over the years, the donation process hasn’t been easy. One implant had to be taken out. But Tessa, who is now 10, stays strong and happy.
“I really can’t wait for a new nose, it’s going to make me really happy. My BAMs syndrome will not stop me from doing anything,” Tessa said two years ago. “It’s disappointing that I can’t smell the good smells but it’s awesome that I can’t smell the bad smells,” the sweet girls adds with a giggle.
Grainne says that Tessa’s energy is getting better now that she is bigger.
“Every day she inspires me with her zest for life and infallible courage. When she saw her new nose for the first time in a lift when we were in London, she looked at me with a huge smile on her face and said, ‘Mummy, I love my new nose.’”
As the young, beautiful Tessa makes the long, emotional trip, she inspires people with her strength and beauty.
People are gushing over the cute girl on her Facebook page, Tessa; Born Extraordinary, in response to posts made there.
“Her face may not be ordinary, but I find it exceptionally beautiful. Intelligence, character as well. Shine on, young one,” writes one. A second adds, “Tessa has grown and is beautiful and looks happy.”
“Seeing the pictures has made my day…” writes a third person on the Internet.
Tessa is a beautiful girl, even though she doesn’t have a nose. Her situation doesn’t change that.
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