Think what you will about the Thompson family from Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, but my heart goes out to teen mom Anna right now. The eldest daughter of June Shannon and "Sugar Bear" made the couple grandparents with the birth of baby Kaitlyn. And now it's out that the baby has a birth defect -- she was born with an extra thumb on her right hand.
Yes, this is the same little girl who was dosed with a pacifier dipped in Mountain Dew recently, but the two things aren't related. The baby girl had the extra finger at birth. And from the way the family is talking, that thumb is there to stay.
Grandmother June told People that they've embraced the extra digit because "it makes Kaitlyn more special to us."
Well, that's one way to look at it. Hold on, I'm not criticizing this family.
I tend to think that if my child was born with an extra finger, I'd have it removed if only because it is so obvious. You can hide a third nipple under your shirt if it makes you uncomfortable. You can keep your six toes in a shoe until you begin to feel comfortable in flip flops. But there's no hiding your hands when you need to use them constantly.
I'd hate to think that my child was being picked on because of something that I could have had fixed.
But I can't fault Honey Boo Boo's sister if she decides that Kaitlyn's polydactyly (the official name for extra digits) is something she wants to just leave alone.
Until you're facing a baby with a birth defect face-to-face, it's easy to imagine what you would do. But when this is your reality, all those snap decisions tend to get lost in a sea of "what if"s.
What if you have surgery to remove an extra limb or digit and something goes wrong? The baby is seemingly healthy, so why put her life at risk? On the other hand, what if this extra thumb is going to turn her into the laughingstock of her classes in elementary school? Kids are cruel, and this could be what bullies choose to pick on to make her life a living hell.
Having all those thoughts running through her head can't be easy for Anna. Then add in the fuss over being on a TV show AND being a new mom? All I can think is that poor girl!
What would you do if your child was born with something "extra"? Would you embrace it or remove it?
Image via TLC
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Comments 121
First of all it is not a birth defect and is actually quite common more with African Americans than other races. Second of all it has nothing to do with inbreeding you ignorant fool.My daughter was born with a extra pinkie toe and although we are having it removed it is because her shies have become an issue and that's it she is two and we never make a big deal out of it, she has started to point to it. Cleopatra had a 6th toe and also Oprah Winfrey has one to...so if you don't like the show don't watch it but save your ignorance
Her shoes have become an issue....sorry speling error
Sugar Bear isn't the father of June's 2 her girls his is only the father of honey boo boo. But anyway if my son had something like this i would have it taken care of because i don't want my child be made funny of.
Please do something to better a childs life. Please vote for rylee!
https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=181420
Her id # is 181420 (toddler)
The PRIZE is money for college which is what I hope my daughter does. I am really trying to help her win. Thank you so much and have a great day.
*princess bride, lilac. loved that movie.
its not traumatic to have it removed. its not traumatic to keep it. Its the parents decision. kids get teased for everything. Kaitlyn would be teased for the reality show before the extra finger.
my friend's niece was born with an extra pinky finger. it's the cutest thing, she is 5 and has plenty of friends. Her parents chose not to remove it because it wasn't affecting her health, but are leaving the option open for her to choose for herself when she is older.
I could deal with a baby with extra digits. My second son was born with a cleft lip that, yes, got repaired when he was 11 months old. He was also born with a heart defect that has now become life threatening. He has had one open heart surgery already, he needs another onesometime in the next year. So, yes, I could deal with extra fingers. If my child decided he/she didn't want the extra finger then we could remove it. It is not life threatening.