21 months toddler born with his brain growing into his NOSE

Wales: Ollie Trezise, a 21 months toddler from Maesteg, Wales, was born with a rare condition which caused his brain to grow through a crack in his skull into his nose. This defect is called as an encephalocele.

Ollie is described as the ‘real-life Pinocchio’ by his proud mother.

The little toddler had gone through many painful and severe operations to help him to breathe and close the gap in his skull.

Ollie’s mother Amy Poole, 22 said during her pregnancy in her 20-week scan the doctors told her that the baby had unexpected soft tissue growing on his face.

Most encephaloceles are large and significant birth defects that are diagnosed before birth. It can be treated with surgery in which the part of the brain that is outside the skull is put back into place and close the opening.

Incidences are rare with about 1.7 in every 10,000 births in the UK.

Neurosurgeons often can repair even large encephaloceles without causing the baby to lose further ability to function.

Amy who was separated from Ollie’s father said. ‘I was so scared to let Ollie undergo such major surgery. He was so fragile, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.’

‘But doctors explained that he was at risk of contracting an infection or even meningitis if he tripped and knocked his nose so I agreed to the surgery.’

Still Ollie had to go through further operations in the future but doctors are waiting to see how his skull develops before performing any more invasive surgery.

‘We have regular check-ups at the hospital, and things are going really well.

‘Ollie will probably never look like all the other children and I’m terrified that he will be bullied at school. But he is such a lovely boy that it’s impossible not to adore him.

‘I think he is absolutely perfect the way he is. There is nothing wrong with being different.

‘Ollie is a unique, clever, funny little boy and he amazes me every day. He is my special little Pinocchio, and I will never stop loving him.’said Amy.