Black South African woman whose daughter was born with albinism reveals strangers accuse her of ‘cheating on her husband with a white man’

Entertainment

A South African woman has revealed that strangers accused her of cheating on her husband after her baby was born albino.

Belvana Abeli’s daughter, Zayana Domingos, two, was born with albinism and has light skin, hair and eyes, while her parents and two other siblings are black.

The 36-year-old from Cape Town explained how her daughter regularly faces discrimination because she looks different, with strangers asking if she is adopted.

She has also been asked how one daughter has white skin and one has black skin, and she has even accused Belvana of cheating on her husband because of their daughter’s appearance.

“The reaction to her having albinism was very positive within our family, but externally there were a lot of questions,” Belvana said.

Belvana Abeli’s daughter, Zayana Domingos, two, was born with albinism and has light skin, hair and eyes, while her parents and two other siblings are black. The family is depicted

The 36-year-old from Cape Town explained how her daughter regularly faces discrimination because she looks different, with strangers asking if she is adopted. Belvana Abeli, 36, (far left), Zivah Domingos, five, (left), Zayana Domingos, two, (right) and Natalino Domingos, 37, (far right)) A

Zayana as a baby. Her mother Belvana says she is often asked if she is adopted

‘People have wondered if I cheated on my husband with a white man – it’s a lot to take in.

“People will ask questions about why one daughter is black and the other white, or ask if she is adopted. It’s hurtful, but people do it unconsciously.’

After suffering from Covid-19 during her pregnancy, she had to undergo an emergency caesarean section at 28 weeks.

When she saw her newborn for the first time, Belvana wondered why her baby had a different skin color and red hair.

However, after genetic testing, doctors confirmed that Zayana was born with albinism, a lifelong condition.

Initially the mother of three was unsure if there was a family history of the condition and later discovered that her grandmother’s great-uncle had albinism and also suffered from discrimination.

Zivah, five, is the oldest of the trio, while Zander, five months, is the youngest and neither has albinism.

People with albinism often suffer from vision loss due to the reduced amount of melanin in the cell layer in the eye and have a higher risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

After suffering from Covid-19 during her pregnancy, she had to undergo an emergency caesarean section at 28 weeks. Natalino Domingos, 37, (far left), Zayana Domingos, two, (left), Belvana Abeli, 36, (right), and Zivah Domingos, five, (far right)

People with albinism often suffer from vision loss due to the reduced amount of melanin in the cell layer in the eye and have a higher risk of sunburn and skin cancer. Zayana and her mother are pictured

What is albinism?

Oculocutaneous albinism is the most common type and affects the skin, hair and eyes. Those affected typically have very fair skin and white or light-colored hair. Prolonged sun exposure significantly increases the risk of skin damage.

Oculocutaneous albinism reduces the pigmentation of the colored part of the iris and the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the retina. The condition can result from mutations in several genes, including those used to produce melanin.

Melanin is the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their color. In the retina, melanin also plays a role in normal vision.

Oculocutaneous albinism is passed on via an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. This means that a child must receive two copies of the albinism gene (one from each parent) to inherit the condition.

If both parents are carriers of the gene, there is a one in four chance that their child will have albinism and a 50 percent chance that their child will be a carrier. Carriers do not have albinism, but can pass on the gene.

Source: NHS

After becoming pregnant with her third baby, Belvana was curious to see what skin color her next child would have after giving birth to an albino baby.

She consulted the doctor to see if there were tests that could be done to diagnose possible albinism.

Although she didn’t mind, Belvana wanted to minimize any possible shock.

Her eldest daughter, Zivah, starts asking questions about why her sister looks different from the rest of the family.

However, Belvana says she just thinks babies can be born black or white.

Speaking about her ‘miracle’ albino baby, Belvana said: ‘The birth of an albino baby was a surprise as albinism was not known to run in our families.’ Zayana is pictured

Zayana is depicted as a baby, her mother saying she is too young to question her appearance

She added that Zayana is too young to question her appearance, but her mother knows the questions will be asked as she gets older.

Belvana said of her ‘miracle’ albino baby: ‘The birth of an albino baby was a surprise as albinism was not known to run in our families.

‘Doctors initially said her skin and hair would darken over time, but after a few days in hospital we were told she had albinism.

‘As time passed, her skin and eyes became lighter and lighter.

‘We already had a black daughter and were not expecting an albino baby at all.

Belvana says Zayana is her ‘miracle baby’ (pictured with dad Natalino, 37

Belvana Abeli’s daughter, Zayana Domingos, two, was born with albinism

‘Having an albino child was sometimes a challenge due to the lack of information about albinism. For example, we were told that our daughter needs a special school because albinism is a disability.

‘Sometimes we get questions about whether she is adopted.

“But it has also been a great blessing for us because it has given us the opportunity to share our story and increase knowledge about albinism.

‘When I was pregnant with my son, my daughter asked me if he would be white or black.

“My oldest is getting to the point where she’s starting to understand that Zayana is different from others in the family.

“But she is our miracle baby, and we are super lucky to have her in our lives.”