Unbelievable! Rare Congenital Condition Results In Baby Being Born With Ear On Cheek

British couple Grace and Rhys James were reportedly 'shocked' when they saw their baby, Vinnie James, for the first time. Born about four months ago, Vinnie was diagnosed with a rare congenital condition that resulted in the little one being born with just one eye, and ear positioned on the cheek. Read to know more. 

James told The Daily Mail that when Vinnie was born, he wasn’t breathing. “They (Doctors) rushed him over to a table, and I didn't know what to do. I went into the toilet and started praying,” he shared. 

James also revealed that when he looked at his son, he noticed that the baby was born with an ear on his cheek. “I didn't know what had happened. I was really shocked at the moment,” he explained. 

“We didn't know what it was, we were really shocked and had no preparation for it. We sat there, confused and tired,” he further added.

Little Vinnie was taken to surgery following which the little one had to spend around 65 days in the hospital. Wondering which underlying condition led to the changes in his facial development? The answer is Goldenhar Syndrome. Continue reading to learn more about this condition.

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What Is Goldenhar Syndrome (GS)?

Goldenhar Syndrome (GS), also known as oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum, is a congenital condition, which means that the baby is born with it. The syndrome is characterized by craniofacial (i.e. affecting the face and skull) deformities, often accompanied by vertebral, cardiac, renal, and central nervous system complications. 

In the majority of the cases, the baby is born with hemifacial microsomia. This means that the bones and muscles on one side of the face do not develop as they normally should, leading to clearly visible structural anomalies. 

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What Are The Common Anomalies Seen In Babies With Goldenhar Syndrome?

Goldenhar Syndrome can manifest in various ways with babies suffering from it presenting with different anomalies. Hemifacial microsomia, as seen in the case of little Vinnie James, is assessed based on OMENS classification. 

• Orbit: The eye socket of the baby is small; their eyes are underdeveloped; there are abnormal growths on the eye or one eye seems to be smaller than the other. In some cases, the baby’s eye is absent as in the case of Vinnie. 

• Mandible: The upper and lower jaw on one side is not properly developed; the jaw is missing/crooked; malaligned jaw; limited jaw movement or overcrowded teeth

• Ear: Presence of small skin tags; part of the ear or whole of it is missing; ear canal is missing or malformed, resulting in hearing loss

• Nerves: Ranges from mild weakness to facial paralysis (affecting a part of the face or all of it)

• Soft tissues: Abnormal development of skin, muscle, fat, tendons, and ligaments that leads to underdeveloped or asymmetrical facial features.

Is there any such rare condition that you’ve heard of? Let us know in the comments.