According to the doctors, Helianny wasn’t meant to be born. The doctors told her parents even before she was born that she would be deformed and her deformities would make her incompatible with life. They suggested to her parents, Soleannys Lugo and Henry Buitrago, to abort their unborn child.

Even though they were told that she would be a vegetable, Soleannys says she knew her baby wasn’t. Oftentimes, her baby would kick her in the womb, responding to her voice and to music. The Venezuelan mother decided to keep her child and give her a chance at life.

She now says that she and Henry don’t regret their decision for a minute. Her mother describes Helianny’s appearance when she was born as a ‘supernatural queen.’ Protrusions on her head looked like a crown, and she had no eyelashes or eyebrows. The veins on her head were very pronounced and she had a pinkish color where her eyes should have been.

Helianny also had hydrocephalus that caused a build up of cerebrospinal fluid on her brain. Her hands and feet had irregularities as well. Still, they believe that their daughter came into the world to teach them to never give up.

Not everyone agrees with Helianny’s parents though. She’s been called ‘ugly’ and a ‘horrible thing.’ Her parents just ignore all the negativity and focus on raising their daughter the best way they know how. Now at three-years-old, Helianny looks much different than she did when she was a baby.

She still continues to get strange looks from some people, but her mother says she has accomplished so much. She loves swimming and Soleannys hopes to raise enough money to give her daughter the surgeries she needs to become more independent.

She says she dreams of seeing Helianny walk and talk, and hopes that one day her only limitation will be what she limits herself to. She says she thanks God every day for her daughter and what she has taught her and her father.

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