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
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 121
Johnathan you are an asshole. Just because a child is born with an extra digit does not mean that they are a product of in breeding. Believe it or not this is a common defect. Get your head out of your ass and get a life
My son was born with an extra thumb. He was about 4 months old when it was removed as it was in an awkward place and would most likely end up broken multiple times in the first year of general baby exploring alone. But if she wants to keep it there, that's her choice. I just hope if the daughter herself asks her mum to take it off when she's older, they will respect her wishes.
Removing it while she's so young would mean as she grows any scaring would become less and less noticeable. Waiting until she gets older could become more problematic as where it's attached becomes solid bone which might rquire plastic surgery to look smooth after removal. Right now, the thumb is in more of a cartiledge stage and easier to remove and make the skin look smooth. Just my opinion...
I don't know if this makes me a horrible person but I would definitely have an extra thumb removed. I hope this family changes their minds soon.
I am a new member of CafeMom and I was under the impression this was a website for parents and adults. I can not understand why some people comment nasty things like inbreeding and who this babies family is. Really, people grow up. Children are born everyday with extra digits and it is not from the stupid things some of you are saying. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Did your mommy not tell you that if you can say something nice, then keep your trap shut!