Chaz Bono has faced numerous challenges as the child of music legend Cher, especially growing up in the public eye. His journey is incredibly inspiring. At 39, in 2011, he began transitioning to male, and while Cher has always supported him, their relationship experienced some initial hurdles.
Cher struggled with Chaz’s coming out as gay, reacting strongly when he first revealed his identity. Over time, however, their bond strengthened as they navigated his transition together. Chaz was born Chastity Bono on March 4, 1969, and became well-known through appearances on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
As a child, Chaz felt different from his peers and struggled to connect with them. At 18, he came out as a lesbian, later realizing he identified as male. Cher admitted it was difficult for her to accept at first but ultimately embraced Chaz’s journey, even describing a “mourning period” for the loss of her daughter.
Chaz’s transition included a successful career in entertainment, notably becoming the first transgender man on Dancing with the Stars in 2011. He also faced personal challenges, including weight struggles. His health journey began in earnest during his transition, leading to significant weight loss, although it came with the challenge of excess skin.
After a tumultuous engagement with Jennifer Elia, who supported him through his transition, Chaz found love again with Shara Mathes in 2017. They maintain a relatively private relationship, with Chaz expressing gratitude for their bond on social media.
Chaz Bono’s story is one of bravery and resilience, and his journey inspires many. Please share this story to honor his courage and encourage others facing similar challenges.
A baby girl who ‘never stops smiling’ is living with a rare skin condition that makes her skin crack
Those nine months a mom carries her baby are filled with joy, anticipation, and a dose of uncertainty. What the new parents hope for is their bundle of joy to be healthy. Sadly, that is not always the case.
Jennie Wilklow, from Highland, New York, couldn’t wait to meet her daughter. She and her husband were over the moon to hold her in their arms. All the ultrasounds and doctor’s appointment suggested the baby was healthy, so they were eased and never thought sweet Anna would be born with a condition that would change all of their lives forever.
Jennie delivered Anna via C-section at 34 weeks. Doctors told her she looked beautiful and that was all Jennie needed to hear at that point.
Shortly after, the proud mom heard her daughter cry, and that was just another sign that everything was right with her little jewel.
When her husband visited Jennie, he was strangely silent and looked worried and puzzled.
“My husband’s silence scared me; he just sat in shock as the doctor left, and I prodded for more info,” Jennie shared with Cafe Mom.
“He just kept saying, ‘It’s bad.’ What does that even mean? I thought in my head. He told me, ‘Jennie, I looked in her eyes, and she has the most beautiful soul.’”
Anna was diagnosed with harlequin ichthyosis, a rare condition that causes thick diamond-shaped plates that are separated by deep cracks. “As they tried frantically to help her, her skin hardened within seconds (of birth). After hardening, it began to split, causing open wounds all over her body,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
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Although doctors weren’t sure she would survive, Anna beat the odds and is thriving. “She was beauty in the purest form,” her mom said.
There isn’t cure, and the treatment is quite demanding as it requires constant baths and keeping the skin as much moisturized as possible. “Every couple of hours I covered her with Vaseline and bathed her for many hours of the day. I had dreamed for years about the things my baby would wear, and though it seemed so trivial, it was what I struggled with most,” Jennie said.
In an attempt to raise awareness about this condition, Jennie posts photos of Anna on her Instagram page harlequindiva. She opens up about the everyday struggles and what it is like to have a child with harlequin ichthyosis.
“Anna captured everyone’s hearts because she is the purest form of perfection. Doing the work every day is simple when I’m doing it for her, and with every new accomplishment, the world celebrates with me,” Jennie told Cafe Mom.
She adds, “I now understand that I was given her because of the love I already carried in my heart for my daughter. Anna was meant for me, and I for her, and together we will show the world what true beauty is.”
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