“Armai Milby, the ‘Mini Hulk’ Baby: A Journey of Strength and Love
Armai Milby, a brave baby girl, entered the world through an emergency C-section at just 33 weeks due to a specific type of lymphangioma. Lymphangioma is a rare congenital condition that causes non-cancerous, fluid-filled growths in the lymph vessels. This condition resulted in Armai having a swollen upper body, giving her the appearance of a little bodybuilder, which led her mother, Chelsey, to affectionately nickname her ‘Mini Hulk’.
Chelsey, overcome with emotion, shared, ‘When I saw her, I cried because I had never seen anything like that. I was just shocked. But I didn’t care what she looked like, I loved her anyway.’ Despite the challenges, Armai, who is now six months old, was born weighing a staggering 12 pounds, more than three times the average size for a baby at that gestation period.
Chelsey often received comments from people assuming she was expecting triplets, given the size of her bump. As her pregnancy progressed and her weight reached 14st 4lbs, Chelsey faced physical discomfort and struggled to move. She experienced daily hardships and sleepless nights, requiring drainage of excess fluid from her stomach to alleviate her discomfort.
Fortunately, Chelsey is delighted with Armai’s progress. She envisions a bright and pain-free future for her daughter, stating, ‘Now she’s squishy, I just call her my little squishy baby. She’s doing very well. She has a lot of extra skin, but it’ll all go away, and she’ll be a normal-looking baby. She got lucky. She’s not deformed or anything like that.’
Despite the challenges, Armai is a happy baby who rarely cries unless seeking attention. Chelsey vows to do everything possible to provide her daughter with the best life. Armai is already achieving milestones, rolling over and attempting to say ‘momma’. Chelsey sees her as a miracle baby and expressed their immense love for her.
Lymphangiomas, also known as lymphatic malformations, are non-cancerous cysts that occur in lymphatic vessels, most commonly appearing in the head or neck. It is estimated that this condition affects one in every 4,000 births.
Armai’s journey showcases the incredible strength and resilience of both her and her mother. With each passing day, Armai is thriving and bringing immense joy to her family. Their love knows no bounds, as they cherish and celebrate their remarkable ‘Mini Hulk’ baby.”