Ayla Summer Mucha surprised her parents with a huge smile at birth in December 2021. Initially concerned due to a rare condition causing the permanent smile, her parents fell in love with her. Now a social media sensation, fans worldwide adore the adorable girl. Born to Cristina Vercher and Blaize Mucha in Australia, Ayla’s grand entrance on December 30, 2021, was met with shocking news: she had bilateral macrostomia, where her mouth had not formed properly.
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Ayla’s condition, called a facial cleft, happens rarely when the corners of the mouth don’t join during pregnancy. Only 14 cases are known, says the National Library of Medicine. Her parents were surprised because ultrasound scans showed nothing wrong. Her mom, 23, and dad, 22, were worried when they first saw her because her big mouth gap was obvious even though she was tiny.
“Blaize and I didn’t know about this condition, and I’d never met anyone born with macrostomia,” said Adelaide’s Vercher. “So it was a big surprise.”
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It wasn’t just the parents who were surprised. Doctors were also not ready for a baby with macrostomia.
“This made the situation even more worrying because it took a long time for a doctor to tell us what was going on. And the hospital didn’t know much about this rare condition,” she added. “All I could think about as a mother was where I went wrong.”
But doctors told the worried parents that there was nothing they could have done differently. Cristina was afraid that she had made a mistake during her whole pregnancy or somehow caused her daughter’s condition.
“I couldn’t stop thinking as a mother about where I might have gone wrong,” she admitted. However, after days of genetic testing and scans, they were told that they couldn’t have prevented this and weren’t to blame.
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The Mucha family’s focus shifted to helping Ayla cope with her condition, which affects important activities like breastfeeding. Because of this, parents are often advised to consider surgery for their babies. The young couple decided to learn more about the condition and shared Ayla’s story on social media. On TikTok, her unique smile caught the attention of 6.5 million users. The Muchas were surprised by the overwhelming support they received.
“I just read on Google that there are only 14 documented cases. She is so special. Be proud, mama,” wrote one user.
Another online user commented on Ayla’s smile, saying, “She is beautiful and just perfect the way she is. She made me smile too.” While it’s not confirmed, it seems that Ayla, who recently turned two, underwent successful surgery to correct her enlarged mouth. Despite this, the little girl, who became a big sister in November 2023, shows hardly any scarring from the procedure.
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We’re glad that the Mucha family didn’t let online negativity stop them from sharing videos and pictures of the lovely Ayla. What are your thoughts on this wonderful family? Please share your opinions with us and pass on this story to hear what others think!