When Ayla Summer Mucha entered the world in December 2021, she surprised her new parents with a beaming smile gracing her little face.
When Ayla was born with a rare condition that gave her a permanent smile, her parents were initially taken aback. However, they quickly grew to adore their daughter and her infectious smile. Now, Ayla has become a social media sensation, with fans from all over the world falling in love with her adorable and heartwarming smile.
Continue reading to discover more about this adorable little bundle of joy!
It was a moment filled with excitement and joy as Australia’s Cristina Vercher and her husband Blaize Mucha welcomed their long-awaited baby girl into the world on December 30, 2021.
However, during the C-section birth, doctors delivered some surprising news to the new parents.
Ayla Summer Mucha experienced bilateral macrostomia, a condition where the baby’s mouth did not develop properly.
This particular deformity, known as a facial cleft, is a rather uncommon condition that occurs when the corners of the mouth fail to fuse together properly during pregnancy.
Interestingly, the malformation is incredibly rare, with only 14 cases reported in medical literature, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Ayla’s parents were taken aback when they saw the size of her mouth, as it was not something they had anticipated based on the ultrasound scans.
The new mom, who is now 23 years old, shares that she and Blaize, who is 22, were immediately concerned when they laid eyes on Ayla for the first time. The condition was apparent right away, as she was extremely tiny.
“Blaize and I had no idea about this condition, and I had never encountered someone born with a macrostomia,” Adelaide’s Vercher shared. “I was completely taken aback.”
Not only were the parents taken aback, but others were also surprised. Doctors were not adequately prepared to handle a baby with bilateral macrostomia.
It was quite concerning that it took several hours for a doctor to provide us with an answer, which made the whole experience even more unsettling. Dealing with this situation posed additional challenges since the hospital had limited understanding and resources for such an uncommon condition. She added, “All I could think about as a mother was where I went wrong.”
However, the doctors reassured the worried parents that there was no alternative course of action they could have taken. Cristina had worries that she had made mistakes throughout her entire pregnancy or had somehow contributed to her daughter’s condition.
She admitted, “As a mother, all I could think about was where I might have gone wrong.” However, after days of genetic testing and scans, they were given reassurance that this issue was completely beyond their control and that they were not at fault for it.
The Muchas could shift their focus towards supporting Ayla in managing her condition, which also affects her ability to latch and suckle.
Due to this, parents are frequently advised to consider surgical options for their young children.
The young couple embarked on a mission to delve deeper into the condition and made the choice to share Ayla’s story on social media. It was on TikTok where her unique smile caught the attention of a staggering 6.5 million online users.
The Muchas were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming support they received.
“I recently came across some information online stating that there have been only 14 documented cases. She is truly remarkable. Be proud mama,” one user commented.
Another internet user comments on Ayla’s infectious smile, stating, “She is absolutely stunning and truly flawless. She made me smile as well.”
Meanwhile, a few people who criticized the vulnerable child were swiftly shut down by Ayla’s devoted supporters.
“Your daughter is incredibly beautiful, and it’s important not to pay attention to those negative people. She’s such an Angel,” shares one. “Oh my goodness.” You are absolutely adorable! “Don’t pay attention to those hurtful comments. Your adorable charm is simply irresistible,” said another person.
“You are such a strong woman, and your daughter is absolutely beautiful. It’s really disheartening to see those insensitive comments,” a third person wrote.
In response to the negative comments about her adorable baby, Vercher expressed her belief in the importance of kindness and acceptance towards everyone.
If something like that happened in your life, she said, “you would hope that people would treat you and your children with the same respect.” She also said that things “like this” could happen to anyone. “Social media is a divided place. Unfortunately, you have no control over the personalities of other individuals.”
Drawing strength from the encouraging comments and support, Vercher emphasizes their determination to continue sharing their experiences and cherished memories, fueled by a deep sense of pride.
There is speculation that Ayla, who recently turned 2, underwent surgery to correct her enlarged mouth. While this information has not been officially confirmed, it seems to be the case. In November 2023, the little girl welcomed her baby brother Sonny into the world, and she is happy to report that she has very minimal scarring from the procedure.
We are delighted that the Muchas remained unfazed by the negative comments online and persisted in sharing videos and pictures of the adorable little Ayla.
What are your thoughts on this beautiful family? Feel free to express your thoughts and join the conversation by sharing this story with others.