The girl who was born without a nose, Tessa Evans, was born on Valentine’s Day in 2013. Every day, her family and people all over the world love and praise her.
Less than 100 people in the world have the same condition as Tessa. Her mother praises her “charming” attitude and “infallible courage.”
People Grainne and Nathan Evans were shocked when their Valentine’s Day baby was born without a nose. Their pregnancy had been normal, and there were no signs of any problems.
The National Institutes of Health says that there have been less than 100 cases of this condition ever recorded in medical history.
For Tessa, it means she can’t smell or breathe through her nose, but she can still cough, sneeze, and get a cold.
“It was funny the very first time she sneezed, but we actually found out that it actually comes from your chest,” said her dad, Nathan. “However, having that wee bit of normality was quite nice.”
When she was less than two weeks old, she had surgery to add a tracheostomy tube to her mouth, which made it possible for her to eat and sleep normally.
Tessa was the first person ever to have a cosmetic nasal implant put in to help make up the lost limb. She was only two years old.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision for all of us, we love Tessa so much and thought she was completely beautiful the way she was,” Grainne said. “We ultimately decided to go ahead as it was a chance to gradually change her appearance over the years and to normalise her profile without ever cutting her face.”
When Tessa turns 13, the surgery on her face will finally be over, and Grainne talks about the long process: “They say once they have the final, nuanced nose in place that they will then get a medical tattoo artist to tattoo in light and shade to make the more detailed contours of her nose.” She added, “They can then dimple in the nostrils and shade them to look real.”
After making the hard choice, Grainne, a mother of three, wanted to spend every minute of her baby’s recovery with her.
“It was very stressful though, as I had never spent a night apart from Tessa, and it was quite soul-destroying to leave her side each evening at 11 p.m.” Grianne continued, “I was comforted by the fact I was a phone call away and could be there in just a few minutes. Whatever happened, I would be by her side when she woke up the next day. And that was a gift.”
Grainne says that Tessa’s energy is getting better now that she is bigger.
“Every day she inspires me with her zest for life and infallible courage. When she saw her new nose for the first time in a lift when we were in London, she looked at me with a huge smile on her face and said, ‘Mummy, I love my new nose.’”
As the young, beautiful Tessa makes the long, emotional trip, she inspires people with her strength and beauty.
People are gushing over the cute girl on her Facebook page, Tessa; Born Extraordinary, in response to posts made there.
“Her face may not be ordinary, but I find it exceptionally beautiful. Intelligence, character as well. Shine on, young one,” writes one. A second adds, “Tessa has grown and is beautiful and looks happy.”
“Seeing the pictures has made my day…” writes a third person on the Internet.