Ollie Trezise may only be 21 months old, but he has already has plenty of strangers speak about him in cruel terms. The comments and taunts about his looks have caused his mother to break down and cry on more than one occasion.
She calls her son the “real-life Pinocchio,” and she hopes that by telling others about his rare condition, she will spread awareness of his ailment. She also wants people to know that, despite his problem, he is a happy and brave child.
Posted by Sumedhi Medhi on Monday, December 14, 2015
According to the Daily Mail, Ollie was born with a defect that causes his brain to grow through an existing crack in his skull. It is known as an encephaloche and it results in a protuberance, which appears sac-like. It was first noticed during his 20 week ultrasound. Although she was aware of the problem the appearance of Ollie was still a shock to his mother.
“When they gave me Ollie to hold, I was so surprised that I almost couldn’t speak. He was so tiny, but there was this enormous golf-ball sized lump on his nose. At first I wasn’t sure how I would cope. But I knew that I would love him no matter what he looked like.”
The growth on Ollie’s nose has prompted some rather cruel talk. His mother has heard others call her son “ugly” and some have gone so far as to say he should never have been born!
Posted by Sumedhi Medhi on Monday, December 14, 2015
Amy does not share those feelings.
“To me, Ollie is perfect. He is my little real-life Pinocchio and I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
As the baby grew, so did the growth on his nose. Doctors informed his mother when he was only 9 moths old that he would eventually need an operation. The procedure would open his nasal passages and help him breathe.
Amy was not happy with the thought of her little boy having an operation, especially since it was such a serious procedure. The surgeons convinced her that is was a necessary operation, not only to help him breathe but to reduce the possibility of infection or perhaps meningitis.
Posted by Sumedhi Medhi on Monday, December 14, 2015
A 2 hour procedure took place in November, 2014 involved cutting open his skull, rebuilding the nose and removing excess brain fluid. Amy was fearful of the worst, thinking that her son would be traumatized but he maintained a sunny disposition.
“After the operation, Ollie had a huge zig-zag scar across his head. He must have been in so much pain, but he just kept smiling and laughing. His positivity made it so much easier for me.”
Ollie has been doing well since the surgery. In the future, he will have a need for further operations but doctors are waiting for him to develop further.
Posted by Sumedhi Medhi on Monday, December 14, 2015
Amy was aware that her son would never look the same as other children. She wants to make as many people as possible aware of his condition, in part to keep Ollie and other children with the condition from being bullied.
“I’d much prefer if people asked me why Ollie looks the way he does, rather than just telling me is ugly or pointing and staring.”
There is no doubt that Ollie is a lovable child. Even though Amy worries about how others may treat her son, she knows it is impossible to know him and not to love him.
Please pass this inspirational story on to others…