Tomm is an extraordinary infant, and he holds the unique distinction of being the only known baby born with his skin condition. Geoff Tenpnet, Tom's father, shared with 60 Minutes Australia, "When the baby was born, I was shocked. I didn't anticipate a newborn to have such a condition." Tomm's mother added, "My heart was filled with fear and worry, but at the same time, I was thrilled; I held the baby."
The origins of Tomm's condition remained a mystery to scientists. They were unable to determine the cause of Tomm's skin becoming wrinkled and lacked answers, so they allowed him to grow up, hoping that his skin would mature as he aged. In fact, Tomm was so unique that researchers invested time and resources in examining his DNA in an attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding his origin. Tomm spent a total of two and a half months in the laboratory, undergoing examinations and analysis. Scientists faced a significant challenge, as Tomm is the first child in the world to be born with this condition.
Later, they realized that Tomm's skin condition resembled that of the Shar-Pei breed in China, which provided some insights. Scientists ruled out the possibility of a rare mutation in Tomm's skin. This phenomenon also occurred in Tomm's skin, which was a hundred times thicker than the average person's. However, the rare skin condition would gradually diminish with age, and the skin would return to its natural state. Doctors hoped and anticipated that this would be the case with Tomm. Fortunately, it was. His mentor, Dr. Andrew Ramsden, predicted that as Tomm grew older, the condition would gradually disappear. As a result, when Tom grew up, starting as a young boy, his wrinkled skin gradually vanished.
As his immune system improved, some of the cracks in his spine, legs, wrists, and feet started to heal. The once wrinkled infant grew into a handsome young man. Tomm's mother, Debbie, who works at a bakery, recounted her story, stating that someone had once said, "How can you bring a child in public? The child was required to stay at home, and I was furious."
While Tom's parents are extremely proud of him, he is also an outstanding student. Tomm's parents mentioned that they had nothing to hide from their son.
They have faith in their patience and believe that it will improve with time.
