Twenty-two years after being born with unusual syndrome, the baby looks fantastic.

Before meeting their baby, parents endure an exciting nine-month wait, but for some, the birth brings unexpected challenges.

In the late 1990s, Mary and Brad Kish from Illinois eagerly awaited their daughter Michelle. The pregnancy and birth were smooth, with no signs of issues.

However, when Michelle opened her eyes, doctors noticed something unusual. After consulting medical texts and experts, they diagnosed her with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome, a rare genetic disorder with only 250 known cases worldwide.

“No one had seen it before at the hospital,” Mary shared, recalling her worries about caring for a child with such a rare condition.