Little Paisley faced a unique challenge from the moment of her birth—a rare condition causing her tongue to measure more than twice the size of her mouth, leaving her unable to smile.
At the time of her birth, astonished physicians were met with the extraordinary sight of Paisley’s disproportionately large tongue, noted as the largest they had ever witnessed in a newborn. The subsequent diagnosis unveiled Beckwith Wiedemann Syndrome, an uncommon overgrowth disorder affecting one in every 11,000 births worldwide.
In the crucial first week of her life, Paisley relied on a breathing apparatus to prevent the peril of choking. Additionally, she needed nourishment through a gastronomy tube until she reached six months of age.
Despite initial hopes that Paisley’s mouth would naturally adapt to accommodate her oversized tongue, her family from Aberdeen, South Dakota, faced the agonizing decision of permitting surgical intervention. The initial surgery, involving partial tongue removal, proved unsuccessful as the organ regrew.
Post-recovery, Paisley shared her first smile—a heartwarming moment that left her mother, a pre-medical student, in disbelief. Describing the transformation, Paisley’s mother expressed immense relief, noting that Paisley now smiles frequently, exhibits different facial features, and is approaching her first words.
