In January, reports about a certain Nhel Jhon Prado in Manila was born with a “horn” growing out of his head. Doctors did not see any abnormalities during the pregnancy. The lump on Nhel’s head was only seen on the day his mother gave birth to him.
Angela and Ronel Prado gave birth to Nhel who diagnosed with encephalocele, which is a rare type of birth defect where the neural tube does not close completely during pregnancy as it should during the third and fourth weeks. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Encephalocele is a sac-like protrusion or projection of the brain and the membranes that cover it through an opening in the skull.” Reports from The Sun say that the growth was only the size of an egg when Nhel was born.
Unicorn Baby, Parents consider him a blessing
Angel and Ronel, both twenty-year-old parents, consider him a blessing. “We have never seen a baby like this before, so we try to look at it like a blessing. Like he is a special little unicorn baby,” Ronel tells The Daily Mail. Click here to watch full video via The Daily Mail. See pictures via The Daily Mail.
“I hope that my baby gets better soon. I know he can do it. We will do everything we can,” he said. “I would like to see my boy get older so I can play soccer with him like other children do. He deserves that, he’s so beautiful.”
The “horn” continues to grow, so the baby needs constant care and the growth needs to be covered at all times. The couple was able to bring him to their home in Manila.
Luckily, tests show that the growth is benign, revealing a healthy brain for the baby. However, doctors say it can be removed in an operation at Pasig General Hospital. The surgery was supposed to happen in a few weeks, but the high cost of the medical bills has delayed it.
The protrusion can grow anywhere from the anywhere along the center of the skull from the nose to the back of the neck. But the most common is at the back of the head, atop the head or between the forehead and nose.