Some kids just have it harder than others. And if people are already calling young Ollie Trezise a “real-life Pinocchio,” there’s no telling what this young boy’s peers will call him.
He’s 21 months old, and his brain has been growing form a crack in his skull into his nose.
His mother, Amy Poole, first found out that something wasn’t quite right during her 20-week scan. Doctors told her that her baby had soft tissue growing on his face.
She wasn’t sure how it would turn out, but when she gave birth to hi in February 2014, she was shocked.
“When they gave me Ollie to hold, I was so surprised that I almost couldn’t speak,” she said. “He was so tiny, but there was this enormous golf ball-sized lump on his nose.
“I wasn’t sure how I would cope. But I knew that I would love him no matter what he looked like.”
The lump is known as an encephalocele. This is a defect that allows the brain to grow through the skull, which creates a protruding sac. In Ollie’s case, it grew on his nose.
Over the next several months, the lump on his nose continued to grow. This caused doctors to tell his mother that in order for Ollie to breathe, he needed to be operated on.
“He was so fragile, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him,” said Amy, “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.”
His skull was cut open in order to remove the excess brain fluid, and to rebuild his nose.
Ollie made a full recovery, and his mother is proud of him. He’ll need further operations, but doctors want to see how he develops before scheduling any more surgery. Despite his surgeries and struggles, he’s always smiling. However, his mother is most worried about his future.
“Once, a woman told me I should have never given birth to him. I nearly burst into tears,” said Amy.
“I’d much prefer if people asked my why Ollie looks the way he does, rather than just telling me he’s ugly or pointing and staring.
“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.”
