THIS LITTLE GUY was born in the USA weighing 6lbs 8oz, and without a nose. He’s had a rough start in life, but Eli has captured the hearts of people across the world.
His story is being told through a Facebook account where his family have been keeping people updated with his progress since he was born on 4 March.
A fundraising site has also been set up to help his parents Brandi and Troy with medical and travel bills.
The family say that the chance of Eli being born without a nose is “a 1 in 10 billion chance”. The condition is called complete congenital arhinia.
A little girl in Ireland, Tess, was also born with the condition.
Eli doesn’t have any sinus cavities or nasal passages, so although he might have cosmetic surgery to construct a nose later in life, it wouldn’t function like a ‘normal’ nose.
The Facebook page and fundraising page were set up by Brandi’s friend Crystal Weaver.
“I’m not the type of person that ask[s] for help so this is very hard for me to do but since I won’t be able to go back to work when I expected and bills, (medical expenses & travel expenses) aren’t going to quit coming, I don’t know what else to do,” said Brandi about fundraising.
He has a long road ahead of him.
In their latest update, the family say that Eli has been brought home and has been given his first bath.
He is being fed his mother’s breastmilk, and at 7lbs, he has put on weight. His parents have learned how to use all of the equipment necessary to care for him.
Eli’s story has captured attention worldwide – the GoFundMe account has raised $6,965:
And his story is being shared widely:
Speaking to the Alabama News, Brandi said that they only discovered after he was born that he didn’t have a nose – it was not picked up during her ultrasounds.
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