(Image source from: Parents Abandon Baby; Grandfather Steps In})

A newborn was abandoned by her parents, because she was born with wrinkly skin and is now recovering from severe dehydration. The girl was born prematurely in western India at seventh month and weighed less than 2 pounds. Her parents, Mamata and Ajay Dode, were expecting her to look like her 3-year-old sister, but they were shocked that the newborn is so tiny and that her skin appeared wrinkly.

"When the baby was given to us, we were left shocked. She did not have the usual features and the word soon spread in the village. From our relatives to villagers, everyone gathered at our home to have a look at the baby. And when they got to see her, they ran away in fear. None held the baby in [their] hands as they thought they will catch the disease. Even my son and daughter-in-law refused to accept her as they were embarrassed to have given birth to her," the baby's grandfather Dilip Dode told.

Grandfather Dilip began taking care of her and gave her spoonfuls of goat milk. Seeing that she isn't doing well, he took her to Wadia Hospital in Mumbai. The hospital is treating the baby free of charge and has also given Dilip a complimentary room to stay in.

"My only hope is that she gets well and lives a normal life. I will try to convince her parents to accept her, but if they still refuse, I will raise her up myself. It is not her fault to have born different and I will not throw her [away] for this disease, Dilip said."

By Premji