A MUM has lashed out at cruel strangers – who mock her baby boy because of a rare condition that causes his skin to shed every day.
Anna Ciesielska, 30, from Derby, says she has been bombarded by taunts online comparing two-year-old Michal Winter to a doll.
The youngster was born with Harlequin ichthyosis, which caused him to be born with plates of thick skin that crack and split apart.
Anna has to apply lotion to Michal, who is half the size he should be, every four hours to keep his skin moisturised.
She has decided to share pictures of her son while he was in hospital to show how his tight skin caused his eyelids and lips to turn inside out.
Anna said: “People will come up to me and ask what happened to him and if they can help.
“I was in a shop and someone came up to us and was staring at Michal and asked if he was a doll.
“When Michal moved he was totally surprised, they were surprised he was a real boy.
“When we go out people stare at us, their jaws drop. Sometimes a person will see a photo of him online and message me saying he looks like a doll, it really upsets me.
“Michal is a perfectly normal boy with a wonderful nature. He just has this skin condition.”
Anna only knew that Michal had Harlequin ichthyosis after he was born covered in hard, scaly patches of skin.
The abnormal growth of the skin inhibits growth and movement meaning Michal is still unable to walk and is smaller compared to other children his age.
She said: “It was a total surprise that Michal has Harlequin ichthyosis, I didn’t know anything was wrong until he was born.
“It was a huge shock. I thought I was going to have a healthy baby. Not even the doctor’s at first knew what was wrong with him.
“At first it was horrendous for us. I was devastated.
“The doctors didn’t know how long Michal would have.
“Despite that, he’s such a happy and smiley child. He’s overcome so much and despite the challenges he faces he’s such a happy and loving child.
“He loves meeting people and being out in the world, he has a passion for life.”
