Doctors Said Baby Born with Brain Outside Skull Had Zero Chance of Survival—Just Look at Him Now

Bentley Yoder's father said: "All I have to do is look at him to keep going when the motivation isn't really there"




It was 22 weeks into her pregnancy that Sierra Yoder and husband Dustin were told that their child had a rare birth defect.

Showing signs that their unborn child may not survive, they were given 24 hours by doctors to consider if they wanted an abortion.

Medical experts insisted to them that the condition, named encephalocele which can lead to a child's skull being deformed, was "incompatible with life".

However the parents decided to give their child every chance of survival, and went ahead with the pregnancy despite the worrying ultrasound analysis.

The following evening, Sierra felt the baby kick and knew that they had made the right decision.




Bentley Yoder is defying all the odds
She said: "When we first heard the word encephalocele, we had no idea what it was.

"We just knew that it involved something with his dead.

"From what they were telling us, there was no possible way that he was ever going to survive."

Born on November 1 last year, the parents named their son Bentley.




A surgeon 3D printed his brain so the surgery could be planned and practised in advance
Initially, doctors warned the parents that their child would not live for long.

But 22 weeks on, the family from Sugar Creek, Ohio, cannot believe the progress their son is making.




Bentley Yoder and his parents at their family home
And it's all thanks to Dr John Meara, a surgeon at Boston Children's Hospital who was adamant that the child's life could be saved.

In May, he performed surgery on the child to make the hole in his skull larger.




The child was given little chance of survival
He even used 3D printer to map out the child's skull beforehand.

This allowed the surgeon to practice the operation before performing it.

While it is unknown what the long term impact the condition will have on Bentley's life, he is doing well and living at home with his parents and older brother Beau.

The child's dad Dustin said: "All I have to do is look at him to keep going when the motivation isn't really there"

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