Prior to the birth of Gray Canales, doctors were unsure about whether he would be capable of breathing on his own. Now, he is able to face the future with a nose that was surgically reconstructed.
Baby Born Without Nose
Twenty-two years ago, Gray Canales was a baby born without a nose. His was a case of bilateral congenital deformity, which is a physical abnormality that can be found at both of the body's sides and is evident upon birth. In Gray's case, it was reflected in the absence of his nose.
His journey started when his parents found out that they were pregnant in 2001. The pregnancy of his mother, Mary Jo, appeared normal until her sonogram at 20 weeks.
Mary Jo recalls that the tech kept taking longer. They then went to the doctor, as they knew at that point that something was happening. However, they weren't exactly ready for what happened next.
Doctors told the parents that they were unable to pick up the nose of the baby. They added that the chances that their son would be able to breathe independently and survive were quite slim. More tests confirmed that their baby did not have any noses and would likely experience brain damage. The baby also had problems with his feet and legs.
The parents decided against pregnancy termination, with John, the father of Gray, explaining that it was not a choice for them.
After four months, Harrison Canales, or Gray, was born five weeks earlier. His birth happened through an emergency C-section. As previously expected, he had a gaping hole in the area where his nose should have been. He also did not have any eyelids. He also had missing toes and legs that were turned over 90 degrees.
Aside from this, doctors also found that he was born without his brain's right frontal lobe. Because of this, his left side had partial mobility. Nevertheless, the baby was observed to breathe independently and was even going home after spending just one week in the NICU.
Mary Jo recalls that there was a lot of care exerted for their baby. They exercised the feet and legs of their son, dressed and cleaned his nasal area, and maintained constant lubrication of his eyes all day and night. This was until doctors could surgically give him eyelids at six months of age.
ALSO READ: My Nose Is Always Blocked on One Side: Nasal Congestion Causes, Treatment Explained
28 Surgeries
Gray, who is now 22 years old, has experienced almost 30 surgeries. While the procedures have been continuously painful, Gray has been able to adjust well, sharing that no one has treated him differently.
The parents also shelled out their time and savings to take care of their son. They home-schooled Gray and made sure that they could offer him the most normal and best upbringing that they could. They also shared that they taught Gray not to feel sorry about his condition, telling him that several others also deal with disabilities.
The process of rebuilding Gray's nose has been difficult, as it involved several painful procedures. These procedures include grafting cartilage from Gray's ribs and skin from his thighs, as well as inserting a skin expander within his forehead.
According to reconstructive surgeon Dr. James Thornton from the UT Southwestern Medical Center, there are only a very few people who were able to undergo total nasal reconstruction.
Gray still has to undergo two final nasal surgeries. He expresses excitement at not having to be interrupted by surgeries any longer.
RELATED ARTICLE: Nose-Picking Linked to Higher Chances of Developing Alzheimer's Disease, Study Reveals
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