In the moments leading up to the birth of Eli Thompson, his father made a lighthearted comment hoping that his son wouldn’t inherit his appearance. However, as soon as Eli was born, the room filled with solemnity and concern. His mother, Brandi McGlathery, immediately sensed that something was wrong and realized that he was missing a nose.
Eli Thompson was born in 2015 with a rare condition called congenital arhinia, which means that the nostrils, nasal passages, or sinuses do not form. According to McGlathery, on March 4, in a bar in Mobile, Alabama, Eli started inhaling through his lips. Surprisingly, his lack of a nose did not 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. McGlathery expressed her gratitude for the nurses at the hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, who went above and beyond in their care for Eli. She developed a strong bond with one particular nurse, who she fondly referred to as her “lover.”
McGlathery stated that they believe Eli is perfect just the way he is and they will refrain from touching his appearance unless he requests a nose. They take each day as it comes, focusing on providing him with love and support.
According to Eli’s mother, he will have to wait until puberty before his nasal passages can be surgically reconstructed. She is determined to prevent him from undergoing any unnecessary cosmetic surgery until then.
Tragically, at the age of two, Eli passed away at the Mobile Spring Hill Medical Center. Jeremy Finch, Eli’s father, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, expressing their loss. Despite the devastating loss, Finch acknowledged that they were fortunate to have had such a wonderful child in their lives. He believed that Eli completed his purpose on Earth earlier than expected, as it was God’s time to bring him home.
Thousands of Facebook users responded to Finch’s post, offering their condolences and support to Eli’s family during this difficult time.
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:upscale()/2020/05/22/746/n/24155406/438feeaeabf3982b_12.jpg "“The sheer joy of a man giving birth to his first child who watched every minute of the experience closely.”P1")
