Pregnancy can be a challenging time for any woman. Beyond the physical strain of carrying a baby, there’s the constant worry that something might go wrong with the child.

Thankfully, most pregnancies go well, and the anxiety is replaced with relief the moment you hold your healthy newborn.

However, Jennie Wilklow didn’t get to feel that relief—instead, she faced a unique challenge.

Jennie’s pregnancy was fairly normal, and she and her husband eagerly awaited their baby. At every check-up, they were reassured that everything was fine.

But things took a turn when Jennie needed an emergency C-section at 34 weeks. Though the surgery and birth went smoothly, it soon became clear that something was wrong with Jennie’s daughter.

“When they took her out I heard her scream and they said: She is so beautiful.” These are the words every mother wants to hear, so I smiled and relaxed “, Jennie.

But seconds later, the mood was different in the room. The baby’s face was transformed.

Several nurses and doctors easily panicked when they saw what was happening to the newly redeemed daughter.

“They did everything to help her, but her skin became rock hard in seconds. After the skin solidified, it began to crack. It caused open wounds throughout her body. Behind the hills I saw their panicked faces and I asked if everything was OK.

After the doctor assured Jennie that they had things under control, she received sedative medicine that made her fall asleep.

When she awoke a few hours later, Jennie was informed by a doctor. It turned out that her newborn daughter Anna suffered from a condition called Harlequin ichthyosis.

She looked at her husband when she realized the seriousness that had happened.

“My husband’s silence scared me; he was only shocked when the doctor left. He just kept saying, “This is bad.”

The disease Harlequin ichthyosis is a gene defect that causes the skin to grow about 14 times faster than normal. It creates a redness all over the body, which also affects the eyes, mouth, nose and ears.

Children born with Harlequin ichthyosis usually die a few days after birth.

However, those who survive can expect a normal life span. But, unfortunately, they are also prone to suffer from complications and delays in development, especially when it comes to motor skills.