In India, a distressing situation unfolds as a 2-week-old baby is left abandoned by her parents due to a rare "wrinkled skin" condition reminiscent of an elderly person. Born prematurely in Maharashtra, western India, the unnamed girl, weighing a mere 800 grams, is forced to rely on goat milk for sustenance under the care of her grandfather after being rejected by her biological parents.
Medical professionals disclose that the infant, born in the seventh month of pregnancy, displays unique features linked to endometrium growth retardation and several chromosomal abnormalities.
The poignant image of the forsaken 2-week-old baby, with skin resembling that of an elderly person, serves as a visual representation of parental abandonment.
Afflicted with an uncommon "wrinkled skin" ailment, the child is labeled a "mutant," prompting both parents to disown their responsibility of raising her.
As the infant's health deteriorates, her grandfather, Dilip Dode, 50, transports her 138 kilometers to a hospital in Mumbai. Grateful for the free medical treatment, Mr. Dilip Dode expresses appreciation for the doctors, noting that regular check-ups during his daughter-in-law's pregnancy did not reveal any issues with the baby.
Minnie Bodhanwala, a medical practitioner at the hospital, states, "We are conducting testing and will do our best to treat the disease. This is a rare condition."
Mr. Dilip Dode, employed as a casual worker, strives to earn additional income to provide for his granddaughter instead of relying on his son and daughter-in-law.
The abandonment of the 2-week-old baby by her parents, citing her wrinkled skin as the reason, sheds light on the challenges faced by children with rare medical conditions in societies grappling with societal norms and stigmas.
