Like Auggie, the young boy in the hit film Wonder, little Ryan was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects the development of facial bones. But his mother, Victoria Macklin, is determined to make sure her son grows up knowing that being different will never define his future.

Victoria, 44, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, knows firsthand how challenging life can be when the world sees your appearance before it sees the person you are. Born with a cleft palate, a small jaw, underdeveloped facial bones and one outer ear, she endured years of hurtful comments, uncomfortable stares and exclusion during childhood.

She still remembers arriving at school at just four years old, only to find other children standing around her in a circle, silently staring. On another occasion, her hearing aid was pulled out, while classmates sometimes deliberately turned away from her.

Those experiences left lasting memories, but they also helped shape the determined woman she would become.

Rather than allowing other people’s reactions to limit her ambitions, Victoria worked hard at school, earned a first-class honours degree in computer science and built a successful career in the technology industry.

Now, she hopes to use everything she has learned to give her 18-month-old son, Ryan, a brighter and more accepting future.

A long and emotional journey to motherhood

Victoria had always dreamed of becoming a mother. However, knowing there was a 50 per cent chance of passing Treacher Collins syndrome to her child made the decision especially difficult.

She and her husband explored IVF and pre-implantation genetic testing in the hope of having a child without the condition. After years of waiting for funding, three rounds of egg collection and three IVF cycles, eight of their 13 embryos were found to have the syndrome.

Only two were suitable for implantation, but the pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Victoria subsequently experienced two more miscarriages.

After years of heartbreak, the couple eventually decided to try conceiving naturally.

Victoria knew there was a possibility their child would inherit the condition, but she also knew the love and support she had received from her own parents could help her raise a child facing similar challenges.

At 12 weeks of pregnancy, a scan revealed that Ryan had Treacher Collins syndrome.

“I wanted to be a mum, and I knew that if my child had the condition, I could give them the support and understanding they needed,” Victoria explained.

She was grateful to learn about Ryan’s condition early, giving her time to prepare emotionally before his arrival.

A tiny fighter facing enormous challenges

Ryan was born 10 weeks prematurely, weighing just 3lb 6oz. Instead of bringing him home shortly after birth, Victoria and her family spent the first five months of his life in hospital.

His condition affected his jaw and breathing, and he experienced episodes in which he struggled to breathe independently. Doctors performed a tracheostomy to help him breathe, while his cleft palate and severe reflux created additional feeding difficulties.

Today, Ryan receives his nutrition through a feeding pump that delivers food directly into his intestine.

For Victoria, watching other mothers take their newborns home while she remained in hospital with Ryan was emotionally difficult. Yet even during those uncertain months, her little boy continued to show a cheerful and contented spirit.

“Getting home with him after so long was an amazing feeling,” she recalled.

Despite his difficult start, Victoria describes Ryan as a happy, curious little boy who continues to surprise her with his personality and determination.

A mother’s promise: to help her son see his own worth

Like Auggie in Wonder, Ryan may one day encounter people who struggle to understand his appearance. Victoria knows she cannot control every reaction he will face, but she hopes the world has become kinder since her own childhood.

She has noticed that people are often more willing to approach Ryan, ask questions and appreciate his cheerful personality rather than simply looking away.

Her greatest wish is for her son to grow up feeling accepted, confident and free to show the world who he really is.

“I want people to see Ryan’s face, but to look beyond his differences and see him for the little boy he is,” she has said.

Source: mirror.co.uk