The family knew Tom would be special

Tom Tennant was born in 1993 with a rare condition that made him a medical mystery even before birth. Ultrasounds showed something was wrong, but his parents, Jeff and Debbie, chose to continue the pregnancy.

When Tom was born, he had an unusual amount of excess skin. Doctors couldn’t diagnose the condition and had no treatment. They hoped he would grow into his skin over time.

Tests revealed his condition was similar to Shar Pei puppies, who have high levels of hyaluronic acid that decrease with age. Doctors believed the same might happen with Tom — and they were right. Growing up wasn’t easy. Tom was often teased at school, but he stayed confident, made friends, and lived a full life. Today, he is 28, happily married, and lives in Melbourne, Australia.

When asked if he would change anything about himself, Tom said, “Probably nothing.” His story is a powerful reminder to embrace who we are.