“Monkey-Like Skin The Story of a Girl with an Unusual Complexion”
Topeka Rogers Robison, a 32-year-old quality analyst, and her husband, Justine, a 34-year-old entrepreneur, have been together since their high school days, sharing a deep bond that spans over 17 years. Their love story took a beautiful turn when they welcomed their baby girl, Jireh, into the world. Throughout Topeka’s pregnancy, she diligently attended regular doctor appointments and underwent numerous tests to ensure a smooth and healthy journey.
In June 2021, Jireh made her grand entrance, a happy and healthy bundle of joy. However, the couple was initially concerned as Jireh was born with dark spots all over her skin, resembling a unique complexion. Their worries were quickly eased by their doctors, who reassured them that the marks were only superficial and that Jireh was perfectly healthy. Jireh was diagnosed with Congenital Melanocytic Nevus (CMN), a condition characterized by visible pigmented proliferations on the skin present at birth.
CMN, affecting approximately 1% of infants worldwide, is not hereditary but rather caused by the faulty development of pigment cells during the first trimester of pregnancy. Although it poses an increased risk of melanoma, Jireh’s doctors assured Topeka and Justine that she would lead a healthy life.
To document their journey and keep their family updated, Topeka and Justine began sharing photos of their daughter on Instagram. Surprisingly, Jireh’s unique appearance quickly garnered attention, and her Instagram account, @_jirehjoy_, now boasts over 7,000 followers.
Topeka and Justine are thrilled to showcase their beautiful child to the world and are hopeful that Jireh will grow up in a society that embraces and celebrates differences. Topeka shares their story, saying, “Justine and I are high school sweethearts. We dated for nine years and celebrated our eight-year wedding anniversary in February. After attending college and working in separate states, we married and settled in Dallas in 2013. In 2019, we became pregnant with our first child, Justice. Although she was born prematurely at twenty-eight weeks, her prognosis was excellent, and she was expected to make a full recovery.”
“We tragically lost her unexpectedly at four weeks old. Five months later, we learned that we were pregnant with Jireh. While still grieving, we embarked on a high-risk pregnancy journey. I had numerous appointments and tests to ensure the safety of this pregnancy. Jireh was born at thirty-eight weeks and two days, via a planned cesarean.”
Topeka vividly recalls the moment Justine first saw their daughter, as he questioned the dark spots on her face. The couple’s hearts momentarily sank due to the recent loss they had experienced. However, upon the doctor’s reassurance that it was merely pigmentation marks and not a cause for concern, their worries dissipated. Topeka affirms, “The moment he said it was just skin pigmentation, nothing else mattered. It meant that my baby wasn’t in danger of dying. I couldn’t fathom losing another daughter. The moment my husband laid her on me, all was right with the world. Jireh is perfectly healthy, and all her tests have come back normal.”
Topeka and Justine plan to continue teaching Jireh that her skin is beautiful, and they are delighted to see that others appreciate her uniqueness too. Topeka shares her perspective, stating, “I don’t worry as much as I would have if she were growing up when we did. I personally can’t remember any classmates with noticeable skin
