As the latest addition to the Ihegboro family of England, even in her infancy young Nmachi has caused shock and amazement not just among her parents, but much of the scientific community as well.
After all, Ben and Angela, her folks, both deny having any family history outside their native Nigeria; and yet inexplicably young Nmachi was born blue-eyed and blonde haired!
Without a doubt, the baby’s name, meaning “Beauty of God,” takes on a meaning that runs deeper than most realize. Commenting on the astonishing birth, Nmachi’s mother told reporters recently that her new daughter “is a miracle baby.”
Indeed, the beautiful newborn is quite the genetic anomaly, since doctors have determined that the blue-eyed youngster does not suffer from albinism. Also, Mr. Ihegboro is quick to assert his certainty that his wife has remained faithful to him, stating that “Even if she hadn’t been, the baby still wouldn’t look like that.” Indeed, to deny that the miracle-child does bear striking resemblance to her proud parents seems harder to conceive than the possible alternatives.
Experts have suggested that some rare form of genetic mutation may be the cause. Head of Human Genetics at Oxford University Bryan Sykes commented that children born with as much hair as young Nmachi is quite uncommon. “The hair is extremely unusual. Even many blonde children don’t have blonde hair like this at birth.” So what did cause Nmachi’s unusual appearance?
While theories abound, Nmachi’s father Ben offered recently that “we understand life is very strange.” However strange the circumstances, the young “miracle baby” was born into a loving family, with two excited–though somewhat perplexed–siblings, and will no doubt have a happy upbringing to look forward to. And yet, perhaps as the rather unfortunate proliferation of racist sentiments continues to outbreak in various parts of the world and the political sphere (namely in the United States), perhaps Nmachi’s birth is symbolic of other things, too: a sound reminder that, no matter what our physical appearance may be, people just aren’t that different after all.
