An uplifting article : Read it here: metro.co... - Changing Faces

Changing Faces

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An uplifting article

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Read it here: metro.co.uk/2018/03/26/girl...

If you prefer not to click outbound links, this is the full article:

Girl, 13, born with no muscles in her eyelids says she likes looking different...

A 13-year-old girl was born with a rare condition which means she has no muscle in her eyelids – but has refused cosmetic surgery because she likes looking different. Holly Chidgey, from Fareham, Portsmoush, was diagnosed with Blepharophimosis Ptosis Epicanthus Inversus Syndrome (BPES).

The condition causes narrow eyes and droopy eyelids and meant when Holly was born she could barely open her eyes and couldn’t blink. Mum Lucy, 44, said: ‘Holly didn’t seem to open her eyes for quite a long time but the midwives just kept putting it down to her being two weeks early. ‘A health visitor said “oh isn’t it a shame about her eyes”. I was devastated.’ Holly has had two operations to try and fix the condition One of the operations involves taking muscle form her leg and putting it into her forehead. Holly has now had two operations – a temporary eyelift at just 15 months old and a permanent eyelift at five years old, in which muscle from her leg was taken and put into her forehead to stop her eyelids covering her pupils.

Lucy, who is also mum to eight-year-old Sophie and married to Garry, 45, said: ‘Had I taken the initial response that all was okay her eyesight wouldn’t have developed properly and she could be blind now. 'She still can’t blink like you and I as she doesn’t have the muscles to do it, she has to use her forehead. ‘But her vision is absolutely fine and she has turned down a third operation to remove the excess skin from over her tear ducts because it’s purely cosmetic. ‘She used to ask me why people were staring at her and one woman even tripped over her own feet because she was too busy looking at her.

But Holly says she likes looking different and has refused cosmetic surgery on her tear ducts 'She’s had people ask if she is blind, if she has Downs Syndrome and if she’s Chinese but she takes it all in her stride.’ The condition could affect Holly’s fertility and she had a 50% change of passing it onto her children. But for now, she is happy with her appearance and hopes to inspire others to accept themselves too.

Holly said: ‘When people stare I don’t feel anything because it doesn’t bother me. ‘I would just say don’t worry about what people think and focus on the positive things, the things you’re good at like dancing, swimming and gymnastics.

When Holly was a baby she could barely open her eyes and couldn’t blink. 'I don’t worry about meeting new people. I always prefer people to ask me about my eye condition rather than mock. ‘I’m happy to raise awareness of BPES because it is rare and some people don’t know anything about it. ‘It’s good not to feel alone and see that there are other people who look like me.’ Lucy, a production assistant, added: ‘We’re so so proud of our little girl. ‘I really wish I’d had her attitude to life when I was her age. ‘Even though she does struggle with anxiety she still overcomes everything. ‘Making videos and dance videos definitely gives her more confidence and she also has amazing friends who accepts her for who she is.’

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An uplifting article indeed! Thanks for sharing younique.

Great article younique and thanks for writing it out so I don’t have to click on the link! Lol

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younique in reply to

Haha you know it! 🙌

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