BRIDGEPORT, NY (WSYR-TV) - A young girl from Bridgeport is giving hope to a baby suffering with a rare skin disease.
NewsChannel 9 first told you about baby Easton Friedel last week. Baby Easton suffers from a condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa, or EB. It's a painful condition where the skin is raw, blistered and missing in some areas. Doctors say most babies die from infection before their first birthday.
Eleven years ago, doctors did not believe Molly Gibbons of Bridgeport would make it past the first 24 hours of her life after she was diagnosed with EB.
"They said that 'Mol' was the first baby born in 15 years at Crouse that had had EB and basically prepare ourselves to not bring her home, that she probably wouldn't leave the NICU," said Tracie Gibbons, Molly's mom.
But 11-year-old Molly defied the odds, although the disease still affects her every day. It leaves her in constant pain and makes her skin extremely fragile, causing painful blisters on her body that's bandaged from her neck down.
"Depending on what day it is I have to get a bandage change which involves taking off every bandage, getting in the tub, cleaning the solution, putting them back on," said Molly.
But you won't hear Molly complain. Other than bandaging, she says her life is like any normal 11-year-old kid, who likes to draw, read and watch TV.
Molly is going into 6th grade in a few days, and offered a word of advice to others living with EB.
"It will be okay if you just believe it will," said Molly.
"She's been a fighter since the very beginning, with grace this girl has performed, so I don't think long term she's been doing really great today and I think she's a perfect 11 year old girl," said Tracie Gibbons.
Baby Easton was transferred to a hospital in Ohio where a specialized team will be able to better care for him.
