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[Dram]

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=28372

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- When most parents have a baby, they spend months dreaming about what their bundle of joy will look like. Will she look like mom? Will he have dad's eyes? But for one local Navy family, the birth of their daughter didn't give them the answers to those questions. Their daughter was born without a face.

When Tammy was pregnant, she knew something was wrong. At worst, they thought maybe their baby had a cleft lip.

So Tammy, and her husband Tom, went to the hospital happy, until the birth.

"The nurse is like, 'We got her stable, we need to rush her upstairs,'" explains Tom, as he recalls every minute of that day. "And the nurse asked, 'Do you want your wife to see her now?'"

Tom says he thought to himself, "Before she gets the shock I did, let me take a picture so she's prepared."

Tammy hadn't seen her new baby yet, because she almost bled to death during delivery. Tammy would be okay, meanwhile, dad went to take pictures of his new daughter.

But no matter what, these new parents had a wish. "That if there was something wrong, she wouldn't be alone. We wanted to make sure she felt loved," said Tom, as he began to cry. "She squeezed my hand."

Little Juliana is missing 30 - 40 percent of the bones in her face.

"She has no upper jaw, no cheek bones, no eye sockets, and she's missing the corner of her ear," explains Tom.

Her birth defect is called Treacher Collins Syndrome. Doctors say it's the worst case they've ever seen.

So, how do you get people to see past all the defects, and find her heart? For mom, it just hurts.

"I just wish people would ask questions. Don't just stare," says Tammy. "I guess the most hurtful thing came not long ago, a little girl said she was disgusting."

Juliana has to eat through her stomach, and she has a trach to breathe. Already, less than two years into her life, she's had 14 surgeries. Doctors say she could need at least 30 more.

Every time she goes to the hospital, doctors make a mold of her head, and then reconstruct her skull to figure out the next step.

It's a life-long process that's draining for Tammy and Tom. Even still, they're thankful and full of love for their sweet child.

"God never gives you more than you can handle. I figure she has a lot to show everyone... to show the world," says Tom.

If you are interested in helping the Wetmore family, a savings account is set up for donations at the Vystar Credit Union in Middleburg.

Donations can be made at ANY Vystar Credit Union to Juliana Wetmore at member number 2102465.

Direct donations can be sent to:

Juliana Wetmore
3018 Hickory Glenn Dr.
Orange Park, FL 32065

 

[Bob White]

Wrong to make a joke?

Cause I'm thinking along the lines of a side kick for a major villain in a James Bond movie.

 

[Matrix]

Holy shit I just watched the vid....I feel like crying right now

 

[karasu]

Why does GA always post fucked up stuff like this man. Damn. Poor girl.

 

[Sriram]

Im thinking more along the lines of a major villain in batman. But yes, it is wrong to make jokes =(

 

[Pochacco]

Very sad.

 

[Trevelyon]

"I guess the most hurtful thing came not long ago, a little girl said she was disgusting."

That's so sad, poor thing. ;_;

 

[Incognito]

@ story

 

[Sriram]

If her eyes just sit in front of the skull isnt that incridibly dangerous, like the eyes arent even protected?

 

[Manabanana]

I figure in situations like these, you can do very little but make light of it. This is most likely a coping mechanism for me, and while my condolences go out to the family and the girl, I have to do this. Don't read this if you don't want to hate me.

Spoiler

"We love the suuuubs!"

 

[Truelize]

Wow. My heart goes out to them. That's a lot to deal with. But as a parent I understand the love you have for you children. Love can do some amazing things. I imagine the parents feel that any time they have with her is way better than no time.

 

[Trevelyon]

Im thinking more along the lines of a major villain in batman. But yes, it is wrong to make jokes =(

I was thinking of a Man Without a Face sequel... The Daughter, of the Man Without a Face: OMGBBQ

............

............

Please God, strike me down now :_(

 

[KiNeSiS]

This is so sad!!!
I oppose abortion but having this individual live through ridicule, this is horrible!

 

[J2 Cool]

Man, I hope one day they can help her live and look somewhat normal. That has to be possible right? Or one day possible?

 

[Boomer]

Wow. That is just... awful. Her face doesn't even remotely resemble a human's.

 

[LakeEarth]

My heart sinks for the family, and my stomach rises from the picture. Lets just say I don't feel comfortable right now.

 

[Justin Bailey]

I'm never going to complain about anything ever again.

 

[Fresh Prince]

That is sad . Hopefully all will end well with the surgeries.

 

[Guzim]

I read about this earlier, and I was hoping it wasn't true

 

[Lonestar]

I heard about this on an AM station (Glen Beck program I think)

Not sure if I want to see the picture, but man, the little girl's situation is so sad

 

[tedtropy]

I heard about this on an AM station (Glen Beck program I think)

Not sure if I want to see the picture, but man, the little girl's situation is so sad

Yeah, I overheard it on Glen Beck on the drive to work. It poses an uncomfortable situation - some would say how could anyone allow someone to live their life like this when they have the ability to end it early, and yet some would say this girl could go on to do great things in the world, be happy, and look 'normal'. How ON EARTH does a parent react in a situation like this? If nothing else, we should all walk away from this feeling a little more thankful for our own good fortune in this world...

 

[Duck of Death]

I'm never going to complain about anything ever again.

Same here. Poor girl. I'm happy that she was born in a family that will not give up on her.

 

[Poody]

I'm never going to complain about anything ever again.

i dont know if cosmetic surgery can repair this?

 

[DJ Sl4m]

God, that's terrible.
I can't imagine the pain the parents are going through over this, this has to be tearing their heart apart.

 

[Scrow]

 

[Sergenth]

Stem Cells --- form of face bones! Now you science bitches!



And don't charge the parents or the girl one god damn cent!

 

[jett]

Dear God that video is the saddest thing ever.

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

I can't even imagine what the parents feel like. The guilt alone of those times when then surely, even for a second, think 'why us?' must be unbearable.

 

[Zaptruder]

So... she'll be wearing a mask for the rest of her life?

 

[LakeEarth]

Oh god... when they said "she doesn't have any eyesockets", I just assumed she didn't have any eyes... watching that video, I realize I was wrong.

 

[El Papa]

Maybe I'm off base in this statement, because I've never or do I ever hope to be in a situation such as this, but sometimes it seems to me that some parents that have things like this happend to their children may be a bit selfish, or perhaps desperate is a better word, for a child. How could you put a child through such torture, eating through a tube and breathing through another tube? Maybe modern medicine is TOO good. I mean, there's no way a newborn can servive a defect like that without insane medical attention. It's not my place to say, but sometimes I think maybe the child would have been better off passing at birth. But who am I to say, maybe it'll all work out. Sad story.

Spoiler

Don't kill me, but the first thing that came to my mind was "Admiral Akbar!"

 

[Lemurnator]

Video made me cry.

 

[Wendo]

From a cognitive perspective, I think that it would be in the child's best interest to not have lived. I think that in situations like this you really have to put your emotions aside and look at the situation critically. I know that life is precious, but you really have to place yourself inside the child's shoes and think about what kind of life is ahead of her.

It'll be at least five years before medical technology advances to the point that she's able to look somewhat normal. But in that period of time, the child will begin to form an identity. Development in your childhood is absolutely critical to who you become as an adult. And there are so many problems that she'll face that I truly doubt that the child would wish to live. Right now she's at a very early age, and cannot fully understand who she is or how abnormal her situation is. But once she gets to the more advanced stages of adolescent development, she'll be hit with the most tragic feelings that many of us could ever imagine.

 

[RaymondCarver]

I think about the tough life she will lead, and I'm troubled. I said a prayre for her and her family. This case is why prenatal care and imagry are important.

 

[dark10x]

Fuck, that's depressing.

It reminded me of what I have to do tomorrow, though...

My co-worker's first child was born with downs syndrome...in addition to a whole bunch of other problems. Long story short, after two years, Caroline is basically brain dead, blind, deaf, and had many other problems. They really fought (all three of them basically lived at the hospital), but there was nothing else the doctors could really do at this point, and they pulled the plug this morning. The funeral is tomorrow...

It's just so sad to see such a young child never really have a chance at living. I don't know if I'm going to be able to even look at the casket tomorrow.

 

[Mason]

Damn, that's so tragic. I'm gonna donate after I get some money for Christmas.

 

[mint]

Respect for having the parents stay positive.

I'm going to donate.

 

[Beezy]

My god. I really hate hearing anything bad about babies or little kids. Reading that article alone made me almost cry. I'm afraid to even watch the video. I'll probably have it on my mind for the next week or so if I do.

 

[BobbyRobby]

I was watching something on Treacher Collins last week, and I thought the girls on that looked bad. Too damn sad.

Still, If I was that girl, I'd want to live. While I may be a freak, I'd still exist.

 

[olimario]

I hope they can do some recontructive surgery after she's fully developed. She seems like such a sweet little girl.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Jesus Christ, what is up with all of you people going OMG KILL IT!!!!!1

Nowhere in the story or video does it say "and she has no hope of surviving" or whatever. She can see and hear. Her brain is fine. With a stomach tube for eating and a trache to breathe, she's playing in her parents' house with normal baby toys. She has a long road of operations ahead of her, but inside she's a happy, normal human being.

Modern medicine has allowed her to live, it's not causing her undue pain and suffering, or giving the parents false hope. It's giving them REAL hope that doctors will be able to get her to the point where she can eat and breathe on her own.

 

[Lambtron]

I'm a fucking asshole sometimes, but this nearly brought me to tears. That poor girl, her poor family, god...

I would love to smack every shithead who says sometthing mean about her in school when she gets that old, those kids are going to be RUTHLESS.

 

[nitewulf]

damn, just damn...

 

[Link648099]

Luckily she was born in the US with loving parents. If she had been born in the Netherlands, they would have euthanised her shortly after she was born. Undesirable traits and what not. In the world of Dutch infant euthanasia and Peter Singer, she might not be alive today, at about age 2. But in the lives of of her parents, mercifully, she is their blessing.

 

[truesayian]

This thread is usless without better pics.

 

[sprsk]

 

[Incognito]

Maybe I'm off base in this statement, because I've never or do I ever hope to be in a situation such as this, but sometimes it seems to me that some parents that have things like this happend to their children may be a bit selfish, or perhaps desperate is a better word, for a child. How could you put a child through such torture, eating through a tube and breathing through another tube? Maybe modern medicine is TOO good. I mean, there's no way a newborn can servive a defect like that without insane medical attention. It's not my place to say, but sometimes I think maybe the child would have been better off passing at birth. But who am I to say, maybe it'll all work out. Sad story.

Spoiler

Don't kill me, but the first thing that came to my mind was "Admiral Akbar!"

I receive food through a tube, and when needed(after surgery or a > 1.0 FVC) I also receive breathing aids.

I'm also glad my parents never decided that the "torture" was too much for me to handle.

 

[LakeEarth]

This thread is usless without better pics.

There's a link.

 

[Bishman]

ROFL sporsk. :lol :lol :lol

But really, I feel sorry for the child and her family. She would have to be home schooled and will have a very, no, terrible teen-to-adult life.

 

[Matlock]

A couple of girlfriends ago was born without a face, or at least I think not. I never looked above her neckline.