Meet Tomm Tennent and his extraordinary case.
In 1993, in the South East of Australia, an exceptionally rare event occurred. A baby named Tomm Tennent entered the world with a remarkable condition that left everyone astonished. Even before his birth, ultrasounds had hinted at something extraordinarily unusual, causing his parents to contemplate whether they should proceed with the pregnancy or not.
Fortunately, Tomm’s dad, Geoff Tennent, made a thoughtful decision. “We sort of discussed this between us, and we decided what’s meant to be is meant to be, and we went through with it,” he stated.
No quantity of tests or medical evaluations could have adequately prepared anyone for the severity of Tomm’s condition. When Tomm’s parents laid eyes on him for the very first time in the delivery room, they were utterly stunned. Debbie Tennent, Tomm’s mother, couldn’t believe her own eyes when they placed him on her chest.
“My heart came up to my throat, but at the same time, it was lovely to pick him up and cuddle him,” she recounted. Doctors were perplexed by Tomm’s condition.
With the cause remaining elusive, there was no known treatment or solution. Their sole hope was that as he grew older, he would naturally develop into his skin, and the wrinkles would gradually diminish.
Researchers eventually made a captivating discovery about his condition.
He remained hospitalized for approximately two and a half months, which presented a significant challenge for the researchers.
They found that Tomm had an excess of Hyaluronic acid in his body, akin to Shar Pei puppies, but his levels of this substance were significantly elevated compared to the norm. Interestingly, as Shar Peis age, their Hyaluronic acid levels decrease, resulting in changes in their skin. Doctors held the belief that a similar transformation might occur in Tomm over time.
Dr. Andrew Ramsden, a physician, had predicted that Tomm’s condition would likely improve as he aged, and his prognosis proved to be accurate. Over time, Tomm’s condition did indeed ameliorate, just as the doctor had anticipated.
In his early years, Tomm encountered challenges such as teasing and being left out of school because of his distinct appearance. However, as he continued to grow, his minor physical differences became less pronounced compared to when he was born.
Meet Tomm today.
Three decades have passed since Tomm’s birth, leaving doctors astounded. Much remains unknown about him in the realm of social media, and Tomm’s current life appears to be somewhat of an enigma.
However, a glimpse into his Facebook profile reveals that he is apparently happily married to Hannah in a location known as Frankston, situated in Victoria, Australia. Tomm shared a profound thought on his Facebook page, stating, “Life’s simple. You make choices, and you don’t look back.”
The arrival of a new baby is undoubtedly a cause for joy, but it also invokes a natural instinct to protect the precious newcomer. In the case of our other story’s heroine, sharing photos of her son with a rare condition often exposes her to insensitive comments and inappropriate questions, but she’s not going to stop doing so.
Preview photo credit 60 Minutes Australia / Youtube, Tomm Tennent / Facebook
