VALDOSTA — Allison Hickman, 4, rode her pink Barbie bicycle up and down her grandparents’ paved driveway Wednesday. With the assistance of training wheels, she rode with confidence and a big smile.

Talking to Charles and Billie Hickman, who Allison refers to as Mema and Papa, it’s evident they never dreamed this day would come. However, it’s also evident that they prayed God would do everything in His power to make it possible.

“I don’t think even the doctors knew how far she would come,” Billie says. “Her therapists are really amazed. She’s truly an exceptional child.”

On April 20, 1999, Allison was born six weeks early, weighing 3 pounds and 14 ounces. She had no eyelids. Her skin was like crepe paper, very thin and transparent. Her nose was broad and her mouth wide like a fish.

Before long, Allison was diagnosed with Ablepharon Macrostomia Syndrome, an extremely rare, inherited disorder. She became the sixth child worldwide to be diagnosed with the disorder, which features distinctive malformations affecting the head and facial area; abnormalities of the skin, the fingers, and/or the genitals; additional physical abnormalities; delayed language development; and/or, in some cases, mental retardation, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders Inc.

Like most, Allison’s family hoped for the best but feared the worst. Over the course of a few years, she endured four surgeries — two to give her eyelids, one on her mouth, and one on her right leg. She will undergo a fifth surgery on her ears in the near future. This past summer she developed epilepsy.

In the meantime, Allison’s life journey continues and includes prekindergarten classes at Lake Park Elementary School. And aside from her physical abnormalities and braces on her right leg and arm, she is just like her schoolmates.

Hanging out at home Wednesday afternoon, Allison said she “likes school.” Her favorite part of the day is “playing outside.” When asked what she does in the classroom, she said “sleep” and closed her eyes to demonstrate.

Allison was eager to show off her backpack, which is red and black, and filled with necessities. Having learned her colors, she said her favorite is green. She proudly proclaimed her ability to count to 10.

“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight …,” Allison says. She forgets about nine and 10 and starts chattering incessantly, having mastered the art of conversation.

“She really needed to be around other kids,” Billie said. “The school has really been tremendous. They have gone out of their way to make her feel accepted.”

Still, there’s the occasional child who stares and makes fun of Allison. Billie says that’s understandable. What’s not, she adds, are the adults who do the same.

But Allison does not pay those people any attention. Watching her, it quickly becomes apparent that this blonde-haired ball of fire does not see herself in that light. In her mind, she’s simply a 4-year-old little girl loving life and living it to the fullest. She hates waking up early in the morning for school and going to bed early on school nights.

“The first morning we woke her up for school she asked what happened to the sun,” Billie said.

Allison describes her morning routine.

“I wake up,” she said. “I get dressed. I put my shoes on. I brush my hair. I brush my teeth. I eat breakfast.”

When asked about her favorite morning meal, she says with her index finger tapping the side of her head, “OK. OK. I’m thinking. Scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon.”

Allison’s favorite evening meal is spaghetti.

Billie and Charles take her to school each day. They finally granted her wish to ride the big yellow school bus home each day.

“She begged us to ride that school bus,” Billie said. “She loves it.”

Between playing, talking, and laughing, Allison reveals a little more about the person she has become. She loves watching Sponge Bob Squarepants and even knows the words to the song, which she sings as she bobs her head from side to side. Her favorite movie is “The Sandlot.”

“I like to play baseball,” Allison said. “But I’m not a good batter.”

She enjoys visiting the skating rink, even though, as she puts it, “I can’t skate. No I can’t.” She’s also capable of doing a perfect impersonation of Dora, the absent-minded fish from “Finding Nemo.”

“She’s just amazing,” Billie said. “You can’t tell me God does not have a plan for her.”

If Allison has her way, that plan will include medical school. She says wants to be a doctor when she grows up because they “help people.”

Allison is the daughter of Mark Hickman and Beth Giddens. She has two older brothers, Corey and Justin.



To contact reporter Jessica Pope, please call 244-3400, ext. 255.