When Jessica Smith prepared to meet her newborn daughter for the very first time, she was curious, just as any new mom is. Then when her baby girl was halfway out, the doctors informed Jessica that her daughter had a ton of hair on her head – but it was all highly unusual. When a nurse her newborn on her stomach, Jessica was stunned. Was this really be her baby?
Newborn Baby With White Hair Sends Internet Into Meltdown
Baby Devina
On May 1 of 2017, baby Devina Smith was born…with snow-white hair. Now, pictures of adorable Devina are taking the internet by storm. And understandably so. However what caused Devina’s white locks? Mama said that her daughter doesn’t resemble anyone in the family, so what was the source? That was up to the doctors to discover.
Baby Devina
Mother of Dragons
Mother of three Jessica Smith resides in Amory, Mississippi, and she believes that her baby girl strikes a startling resemblance to a rather popular TV character. Devina’s mom thinks that her baby girl is a dead ringer to the Game of Thrones character Daenerys. But later on in life! Watch out, Emilia Clarke!
Mother of Dragons
Not What She Expected
Jessica spoke with The Mirror shortly after and said, “I never expected her to have hair like that. I didn’t know until she was born.”
Not What She Expected
Totally Shocked
She added, “The doctor told me she had a lot of hair during delivery but it was a shock when I saw her for the first time, she had so much hair, it was crazy.” And not just a ton of hair, but white hair!
Totally Shocked
Special
Just like any mother, Jessia thinks her baby girl is incredibly special. “I hadn’t seen a baby like that before others were blond, but not white. I think it makes her extra special.”
Special
Media Circus
Naturally Devina’s locks have been attracting tons of attention out in public and especially online. Jessica added, “When we posted her photos online, they were being viewed thousands of times.”
Media Circus
Game of Thrones
Going off of the last fact, people on social media were absolutely fascinated by Devina’s silverish-white hair, some even calling her “angel baby.” Furthermore, they were especially intrigued by Devina’s startling resemblance to Daenerys. “I posted this baby on my Instagram I said she was a Angel baby,” commented Kenyatta Wilson.
Game Of Thrones
Teeny Tiny
While Jessica isn’t surprised by the Game of Thrones comments, she did add, “She’s so tiny, we haven’t taken her out much but when we took her for a hospital visit, a little girl said she looked like a baby doll.”
Teeny Tiny
Big Brother
Devina’s big brother is over the moon with his litter sister! According to Jessica, “My oldest is nine and he was so happy, and couldn’t get over her hair either.”
Big Brother
Precious Girl
Whenever Jessica posts photos of Devina, she’s always surprised by the reaction! “I couldn’t believe how much attention the photos was getting. People thought it had been photoshopped.” Well, we all know that’s not the case!
Precious Girl
Could This Be The Cause?
The doctors continued to look into the cause of Devina’s white hair, and eventually concluded that it could be because Devina has albinism. Albinism is a congenital disorder that prevents the body from generating melanin – a pigment that determines hair color, eye color, and skin color. While Devina didn’t show all the characteristics commonly associated with albinism, her white hair surely did.
Could This Be The Cause?
Test Time
In order for doctors to solve the mystery, they tested her blood and melanin levels. Something that health insurance coverage surely covers. Devina’s parents waited anxiously for the results to come in!
Test Time
Doesn’t Add Up
Once the blood test results came back, the doctor began examining the result. As a result, they found that out low melanin was a contributing factor in Baby Devina’s white hair. However, the mystery only got a bit deeper. See, the low levels of melanin also point to missing pigment in the skin as well. But Devina only has white hair?
Doesn’t Add Up
Prenatal Stress
Doctors began to speculate that the white hair was the result of an illness or a possible symptom of prenatal stress. As infants are much more prone to stress if the mother is also stressed while pregnant. Some of the complications associated with prenatal stress are low birth weight, a higher risk of infection, and premature birth.
Prenatal Stress
Answers
Devina’s parents wanted answers, they deserved answers. But why was it so important for her parents to know why their daughter had white hair? If the blood test results came back and indicated that Devina had albinism, that means that as the years go by, Devina could become blind.
Answers
The Waiting Game
Of course the doctors tried to reassure her parents that there was no cause to worry as Devina was perfectly healthy. Everyone waited anxiously for the results to come in.
The Waiting Game
Diagnosis
When the new results finally returned, it was determined that Devina has partial albinism, which is a rare inherited condition. Partial albinism is the result of a lack of pigment which colors the hair, eyes, and skin. Furthermore this condition affects about five people per 100,000 people all across the Unite States and Europe. So what did this mean for Devina?
Diagnosis
And The Stats Are…
Apart from needing check-ups on her sight, Devina is a perfectly healthy kid! Her parents were over the moon at the results! As she gets older, the doctors will pay special attention to her eyesight to avoid any problems.
And The Stats Are…
Baby Bence
Aside from Devina, there was another baby who was born with the same attribute! Meet baby Bence from Székesfehérvár, Hungary, who was born with a full head of none other than white hair! But did baby Bence also suffer from partial albinism? Or was something else the cause?
Baby Bence
Nothing Out Of The Ordinary
Similarly, Bence’s delivery was totally normal, no problems or complications whatsoever. His parents were of course shocked by his white hair! But nothing else.
Nothing Out Of The Ordinary
A Cause
Just like Devina Smith, doctors ran tests to check what the cause of Bence’s white hair could be. And just like Devina, albinism was the likely answer. Of course they had to wait for the test results to come back before they could confirm anything.
A Cause
Makes No Sense
Dr. Zoltan Kummer was the head doctor in Bence’s case, and he found some odd news. Once he tested Bence’s blood, he found that while his blood carried the same low levels of melanin as albinism, one thing didn’t make sense. Yes, the low levels of melanin was a huge contributing factor to baby Bence’s white hair, however there were still more questions. Especially since he wasn’t missing pigment on his body, just his hair.
Makes No Sense
An Answer, Maybe
Doctors began to believe that Bence’s white hair was actually due to prenatal stress or even a different illness, not Albinism. It’s no secret that most babies are prone to stress while in the womb, especially when the mother is feeling stressed – this can lead to complications of the baby’s health. And that’s what Bence’s doctors believe.
An Answer, Maybe
The Future
Furthermore, Dr. Kummer truly believes that the loss of pigment in Bence’s hair is just temporary and that over time, his melanin levels would increase. Meaning that as he ages, his hair will turn darker.
The Future
Internet Junkies
Yup, just like Jessica, Bence’s parents also posted photos of their baby online – while lead to a media frenzy. However most people disagreed with Dr. Kummer, they believe that Bence’s hair is the cause of albinism and not stress during pregnancy.
Internet Junkies
A User
One user piped up and spoke of her experience when she questioned the diagnosis of her grandchild. She reported that albinism is often underdiagnosed. And in her own case, her grandchild was wrongly diagnosed, it wasn’t until her grandchild turned two that an eye doctor confirmed that he was suffering from yellow albinism. At 12, he is now legally blind.
A User
More Stories
As the story of baby Bence exploded on social media, tons of users shared their stories. One woman said that Bence’s hair was similar to her daughters when she was born. She then said that her daughter’s hair changed as she got older, it’s now a dirty blonde color. However her daughter was diagnosed with albinism.
More Stories
Moving Forward
As a result of everyone’s stories, the Bence family grew worried. However they trust in their doctors and their diagnosis – they will continue to monitor their son and his eyes to ensure he is always healthy!
Moving Forward
Streaks!
Devina is not the first case of such an event, nor is she the last! Although there are variations of each pigment loss, like for instance, baby MilliAnna. Born in 2016, MilliAnna has gorgeous dark ringlets, complete with a white streak smack dab in the middle tip-top of her head!
Streaks!
Disney Princess
While MilliAnna may resemble the evil Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmations, she is way too adorable to be associated with such a villain! After doctors ran many tests, they uncovered that there was a small section of her white hair which lacked pigment. However, everything else (her remaining hair) had the right levels of melanin, so the white streak is isolated.
Disney Princess
How’d It Happen?
Many people wanted to know just how MilliAnna got her incredibly cool and unique white streak, well there’s a simple answer to that question. It’s hereditary. Just like her mom, her mom’s mom and her mom’s mom’s momr, they all have the same white streak, just like MilliAnna. Almost all of the women in the family do!
How’d It Happen?
What’s In A Name
This rare white streak does in fact have a name – Poliosis. Poliosis is a small patch of hair which lacks the melanin pigment and in turn affects eyelashes, eyebrows, the scalp, or other areas with hair. When it comes to MilliAnna, her pigment-free patches are all the same as her family, just the scalp and forehead.
What’s In A Name
In The Family
Thanks to social media, MilliAnna’s family has received tons of attention from around the world, and it’s all thanks to their signature look. While most people have to pay to land such a look, this is one family who gets it for free! Lucky.
In The Family
Pass It On
As there are four generations of Poliosis in MilliAnna’s family, there is a higher likelihood that MiliAnna will pass it on to her future children. And her children will pass it on, and so on. It’s a never ending cycle!
Pass It On
A Threat
In Tanzania, Albinos are extremely rare, but more than than, an Albino constantly lives in fear. Why? There are witch doctors who want their body parts. Yeah, that’s a real thing unfortunately.
A Threat
Bad News
Currently, one of the biggest threats to an Albino is the lack of melanin in their skin. Which means that there is absolutely nothing to protect them from strong sun rays. As a result, their chances of skin cancer is pretty high.
Bad News
Eye Exam Is Key
When a child is diagnosed with Albinism, they will need to have regular check-ups with an optometrist. And yes, well into adulthood especially.
Eye Exam
Head of Hair
If we move off this particular course then we’d learn that most babies are born with virtually no hair – although there are exceptions to every rule. Just take a look at the babies below! Those are not wigs either, all natural baby.
Head Of Hair
Cute? Oh Yes!
This is not such a rare occurrence, folks. Every year, all around the world, thousands of babies are born with a full head of hair!
Cute? Oh Yes!