When Mui Thomas was born in China with a rare and severe skin condition, doctors didn’t expect her to survive. Her birth parents walked away, unable or unwilling to care for her. But what started as a tragic beginning took a remarkable turn thanks to two people who refused to let her be defined by her diagnosis.

In 1994, British couple Tina and Rog Thomas were living in Hong Kong when they heard about a baby in desperate need of a home. Doctors had warned them the child—her skin red, cracked, and extremely fragile—wouldn’t live long. Still, Tina and Rog said yes.

At first, they were only supposed to foster Mui for the weekend. But one weekend became a lifetime.

“When we first saw her, she was one and a half,” Tina remembers. “She had this sparkle. You could just tell—she wanted to live. She wanted to have fun.” Rog recalls telling himself it was temporary. “My wife said, ‘We’ll just take care of her for the weekend,’” he laughs. “That was 20 years ago.”

By the time Mui turned three, they adopted her officially. It wasn’t the path they planned. They had once dreamed of having biological children—but life had other plans. They chose Mui, and in doing so, gave her not just a home, but a future.

Living with Harlequin Ichthyosis

Mui was born with Harlequin ichthyosis, a rare genetic condition where the skin forms thick, hard plates separated by deep cracks. It affects fewer than 20 people worldwide. Most infants born with it die shortly after birth.

But Mui beat the odds—again and again. Her childhood wasn’t easy. Her condition required constant care. She was in pain, vulnerable to infections, and always standing out in a world that doesn’t always show kindness to those who look different.

Cruelty Came Early—But So Did Strength

From a young age, Mui faced harsh treatment. Strangers stared. Classmates bullied her. One school bus driver told her she didn’t belong on the bus. In Hong Kong, some schools flat-out refused to admit her.

High school should’ve been a time for friendship and growth. For Mui, it was a battlefield. “People told me I shouldn’t have been born,” she recalls. “It hurt. I felt alone.”

But through it all, her parents were her anchor. They gave her the strength to keep going—even when the world tried to push her down. And despite the emotional scars, Mui refused to let bitterness win.

Finding Her Voice on the Rugby Field

After leaving school, Mui struggled to find where she fit in. Then something unexpected happened—she discovered rugby. Encouraged by her dad, Mui took to the sport and found not only acceptance but purpose.

“Rugby gave me a place where I belonged,” she says. It became more than a game—it became a platform for advocacy. Mui began speaking out for others with visible differences, sharing her journey and inspiring thousands.

Her story—once kept private for decades—captured hearts around the world when her family finally opened up. The love and support they received were overwhelming.

A Platform for Positivity

Today, Mui uses her voice through her blog and advocacy work, The Girl Behind the Face. She offers hope and encouragement to people who feel invisible or judged for how they look.

Now 30 years old, Mui is thriving. Her condition is still part of her daily life, but it no longer defines her. What does define her is courage, resilience, and the deep, unconditional love of her parents.

Doctors said she wouldn’t make it out of infancy. Mui proved them wrong—and then some.

As Tina wrote in her diary back in 1994, “Mui will be our little kid to take care of.” And that’s exactly what they did.