Before the birth of Eli Thompson, his father joked about not wanting his son to inherit his appearance. However, moments after Eli was born, the room filled with solemnity and concern. Brandi McGlathery, the infant's mother, immediately noticed that something was wrong.
She exclaimed, "Something's wrong!" The physician reassured her, "No, he is perfectly healthy." But she persisted, "He lacks a nose!"
Eli Thompson was born in 2015 with congenital arhinia, a rare condition where the nostrils, nasal passages, or sinus cavities do not form. According to McGlathery, on March 4th in a bar in Mobile, Alabama, Eli began to inhale through his lips.
Surprisingly, the absence of a snout didn't bother him at all. Five days after being admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Children's & Women's Hospital, Eli underwent a tracheotomy.
The nurses and staff showed exceptional care and dedication. McGlathery even mentioned a nurse who developed a special bond with Eli. She expressed, "We think he's great just the way he is."
Until Eli completes puberty, his nasal passages cannot be surgically reconstructed. His mother vowed to prevent him from undergoing unnecessary cosmetic surgeries until then.
Sadly, at the age of two, Eli passed away at the Mobile Spring Hill Medical Center. His father, Jeremy Finch, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, stating, "We lost our little friend last night."
Though they may never fully comprehend why this happened, Finch expressed gratitude for the time they had with Eli. He said, "He completed his journey much earlier than expected, but it was God's time to bring him home."
Thousands of Facebook users offered their condolences to Eli's family in response to Finch's post.
