By admin 
Over the years, we at Newsner have shared many incredible stories about special children who survived against all odds. But few have touched our readers’ hearts as deeply as the story of Tomm Tennent.
As some may remember, Tomm was born with enough skin to cover a 5‑year‑old child. The little boy entered the world so wrinkled that doctors said they had never seen anything like it.
“When he came out I was quite shocked (…) I didn’t think a human, or a little baby, could ever look like that,” Tomm’s dad, Geoff Tennent, told 60 Minutes Australia in 2003.
Since his extraordinary birth, Tomm and his family have been on a long and emotional journey — and looking at him today, in 2021, it’s hard not to shed a tear.
A unique child
When Tomm Tennent was born in South East Australia in 1993, his parents quickly realized he was going to be a very special baby.
Before his birth, no one could have predicted that their son would be described as a medical mystery. Ultrasounds had shown that something wasn’t quite right, but the severity was unknown.
“When we heard this, we didn’t know whether we would keep the child,” Geoff said. “We sort of discussed this between us, and we decided what’s meant to be is meant to be, and we went through with it.”
Despite all the tests and routine examinations, no one could have imagined the extent of Tomm’s condition. His parents admitted they were stunned when they first saw him.
Tomm’s mom, Debbie, recalled the moment he was placed on her chest in the delivery room. “My heart came up to my throat, but at the same time it was lovely to pick him up and cuddle him,” she said.
A medical mystery
To medical experts, the baby born with an extreme excess of skin was a complete mystery. They couldn’t determine what was causing it, and therefore had no treatment or cure. Initially, they hoped he might grow into his skin over time.
Tomm was so unique that researchers decided to invest time and resources into studying his case, hoping to uncover answers.
He spent two and a half months in a medical center undergoing tests and analysis. Scientists faced a huge challenge — Tomm was the first child on record born with so much skin, leaving them with no precedents to guide them.
It was an incredibly difficult time for the Tennent family. No parent wants to spend months in the hospital with a newborn. But Geoff and Debbie found strength in their resilient baby boy. Tomm remained a happy toddler, completely unaware of his condition.
Doctors continued searching for answers — and eventually, they found something unexpected.
Experts noticed similarities between Tomm’s appearance and that of the Shar Pei dog breed. That discovery led them to a breakthrough.
Researchers found that Tomm’s levels of hyaluronic acid — a substance found in skin — were 100 times higher than normal, just like Shar Pei puppies. Since Shar Peis’ hyaluronic acid levels drop as they grow, giving them a more typical appearance, doctors hoped the same would happen for Tomm.
Thankfully, it did. According to his doctor, Dr. Andrew Ramsden, Tomm’s condition would likely improve as he grew older — and he was right.
Growing up
Tomm faced challenges as he grew. He was loved and well‑known in his hometown, but some people couldn’t resist teasing him, especially when he started school. Some children didn’t want to play with him.
But Tomm didn’t let it discourage him. It didn’t take long before he made friends and became fully integrated into school life. He still looked a bit different, but nothing like when he was born.
In 2003, he was asked whether he worried about how his friends saw him. Tomm replied: “Not really (…) because they are my friends and they don’t really care how I look.”
He also told 60 Minutes that when he looked in the mirror, he saw “a kind, loving person.”
“Sometimes people say I look cool, sometimes they say I look really cool, and sometimes they don’t say anything,” he added.
Tomm’s parents have always been incredibly proud of him. “He’s a good boy (…) all he has achieved … he is doing well at school, he is doing well at everything,” Geoff said.
From the moment he was born, they knew they would never hide him. They believed — rightly — that beauty comes from within and is more than skin deep.
Tomm Tennent today
It has now been 28 years since Tomm was born, and he continues to amaze doctors. After the 60 Minutes documentaries aired, countless people wanted updates on the boy with the big smile and excess skin. But traditional media has offered few follow‑ups.
A look at social media reveals only glimpses of his life today. On Facebook, it appears he has married the love of his life, Hannah. The couple seems happy and lives in Frankston, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
“Life’s simple. You make choices, and you don’t look back,” Tomm posted on his Facebook profile — a quote that perfectly reflects his mindset and his life.
It’s truly wonderful to see him today, still with the same warm smile he had 20 years ago.
Tomm is incredibly inspiring. I’m so glad he grew up with a loving family who treated him like any other child — and that he now seems to be living a happy life with his wife.
When asked what he would change about himself, he answered: “Probably nothing.” And isn’t that how we should all view ourselves?