In 1993, in South East Australia, Tomm Tennent was born with a condition so rare, doctors had never seen anything like it. His skin was deeply wrinkled—so much so that even prenatal ultrasounds showed something unusual. Faced with uncertainty, his parents, Geoff and Debbie, chose to continue the pregnancy, believing that “what’s meant to be is meant to be.”

When Tomm arrived, his appearance shocked everyone. With no diagnosis and no clear path forward, doctors kept him in the hospital for over two months, trying to make sense of his condition. Eventually, they discovered Tomm had extremely high levels of hyaluronic acid—a substance that also causes wrinkles in Shar Pei puppies, which later smooth out as they grow. Doctors hoped the same would happen for Tomm.

Thankfully, it did. As he got older, his skin gradually smoothed, but childhood wasn’t easy. He endured bullying and isolation but never lost his resilience. With the support of his family, Tomm learned to embrace who he was.

Now in his 30s, Tomm lives a peaceful life in Victoria, Australia, with his wife, Hannah. He keeps a low online presence but shares a meaningful motto:
“Life is simple. You make choices and don’t look back.”

His story is a powerful reminder of acceptance, courage, and the strength to face life head-on.