Nigerian mum gives birth to white baby in odds that baffled midwives

32 year old Nigerian Catherine Howarth was convinced she had been given the wrong child when midwives presented her with her new baby shortly after she gave birth at a Milton Keynes Hospital on June 1st. She was stunned because the little boy named Jonah was completely white. And even though baby Jonah has a white father, doctors say the chances of him being completely white too were an incredible one in a million.

And it wasn't only baby Jonah's parents who were stunned, so were the midwives. Continue

"The midwife looked at me and looked back down at Jonah and then at me again and couldn't believe it. The doctors confirmed it was extremely rare."Catherine.

Her husband Richard Howarth, 34, was equally astonished.

"When I first set eyes on my baby boy Jonah, it was a feeling of pure delight and relief that he was healthy and strong. His complexion was very pale due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around his neck when he was being delivered.

"After a few hours his colour came to his cheeks. Catherine and I noticed his complexion was very similar to mine and were surprised it was as light. The midwives and doctors told us he'll most likely remain this colour."

Doctors have said Jonah is not an albino.

"We have been told that I must have been carrying a recessive gene. My parents were from Nigeria and, for as far back as anyone can remember, my family have all been black. But at some point there must have been a white gene in my family that has remained dormant for years and years – until now. The doctors said they had researched the chances of this happening and discovered that it was very, very rare. They had only found two similar cases, both in America, that had been reported in recent times." Catherine said

Catherine and Richard say they plan to have more children but have been told the chances of them also being born white are highly unlikely.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ VERDANT STORIES SECTION YOU CAN SKIP READING THIS SECTION TITLE>>>>>>FORBIDDEN CONTINUED FROM 02/SEPTEMBER/2014 The Whiteman's school was called St. Aquinas primary school and it was situated in town. It was Garba's first time in the town. He was surprised to see houses that were different from the mud and thatched huts in his village. The houses were built with blocks and were well - aligned. The school was built with both blocks and planks. It was on a hill. The Whiteman handed them over to another Whiteman whom he introduced as Mr. Jacobs. A black native was interpreting whatever the white men wanted them to hear. "Mr. Jacobs is your head teacher. He is also the boarding house master. You must see him as your parent here. He will discipline you if you misbehave here. So you all must be of good behaviour,' the Whiteman said as he handed them over to Mr. Jacobs. "Follow me," Mr. Jacobs said. They followed him into a house. The house was very neat and there were many bunk beds with thin mattresses. The black interpreter was with them. Mr. Jacobs turned to them. Garba thought he preferred the Whiteman who had brought them from Dogongari because he was friendlier and nicer. "What is your name? I want your full names," he said. "Adamu Shalt," the first boy replied. "Kaita Maigoro," the second boy said. When it got to Garba's turn, he lost his tongue. "What is your name," Mr. Jacobs barked. "Garba Dandogo," Garba stammered. When the introduction was finished, Mr. Jacob began to address them. "This is where you will he staying. It's your hostel, it was provided by the church for those of you from the hinterlands. You will do well to maintain it and keep it clean," Mr. Jacobs said. He assigned them each to their beds. Garba was on the lower bunk. He had never slept on such a bed before. At home he only slept on a mat spread on the floor of his mother's hut. He sat gingerly on the bed and as soon as he did, he heard a creaking sound of spring expanding under his weight. Quickly, he jumped up in horror. The interpreter laughed. Mr. Jacobs considered him grimly for a moment. "What's the problem, boy?" "I heard a sound in the bed," Garba explained after the native had interpreted to him. Mr. Jacobs frowned. "It won't hurt you," he said with a sarcastic edge echoing in his voice. He left the house after telling the interpreter to guide the new corners and tell them what to do. The interpreter told them his name was Ibrahim from Garin-Alewa. He had been educated in the school and was now able to read, write and speak the Whiteman's language. "Now, you must open your heart to accept the education the Whiteman teaches. It is quite different from our Arabic schools. Here you must do everything the white man does," Ibrahim said. Just then a bell rang. Ibrahim looked at his wristwatch. It was seven p.m. "It's time for supper. We will all go to the dining room to have food," Ibrahim said. Garba realized he had been famished. He followed Ibrahim with the other boys to the dining room. There were many boys there. Garba recognized some of the boys from Dogongari but he did not go to meet them. He was wondering if this was what the Whiteman's education was all about. "Garba, son of Dandogo, your father finally let one of his sons to come here," one boy named Sule said behind him. Garba turned and saw Sule. He and Sule used to be friends before Sule was taken away to the school and when he had returned to the village, he had become somewhat pompous, not associating with the village boys whom he now called 'villagers'. "Hello Sule," Garba said. He had long accepted that his friendship with Sule had long packed following Sule's change of attitude. "How are you? I never thought you'll ever come here. I am very happy for you because this is the place where your mind gets open," Sule said. Garba did not understand, however, he smiled lazily at Sule. Sule sat beside him on the same table. "There's 'Sawa, the son of Maitabba, and there's Abu son of Iliya. I think you also remember Tanko, son of Danlcura," Sule said, pointing at boys from Dogongari. Garba knew them all. He nodded. "And there's Yakubu. He's quite close to the Whiteman Mr. Jacobs. The white man says Yakubu is his name sake, that Yakubu is the same name with Jacob," Sule said. "He lives in the master's quarters with nim." When the meal was served, it was rice and fried fish. The aroma was too much that Garba almost began to eat had Sule not stopped him. "You must wait for the prayers before you eat. And you don't eat with your fingers. This is not your bush village. Use the cutleries," he said. Garba looked at the cutleries. He had never used cutleries to eat before. He only used wooden spoon to drink fura da nunu and his hands for every other food he ate. "Bless this food, gracious Lord, for Christ's sake," Mr. Jacobs said. "Amen,"' children chorused. TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW....PLEASE VISIT OUR BLOG AGAIN TOMORROW FOR A CONTINUATION OF THIS AMAZING STORY!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}