X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Meet the toddler whose brain grows through his nose

2 min read
Meet the toddler whose brain grows through his noseMeet the toddler whose brain grows through his nose

21-month-old Ollie, fondly called 'real life Pinocchio', has a rare condition which is causing his brain to grow through a crack in his skull into his nose.

22-year-old Amy Poole of England was 20 weeks pregnant when doctors found something strange about the baby she was carrying.

A scan showed unusual growth of soft tissue on his nose which was morphing into a lump.

An MRI was done to further determine what was happening, which confirmed that the lump was an encephalocele.

Encephalocele is a rare condition which causes parts of the brain to protrude through irregular openings in the skull, this is why his brain grows through his nose.

Though Amy was scared at first she was just relieved the lump found was not cancerous.

Amy told the Daily Mail, "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."

She adds, "At first I wasn't sure how I would cope. But I knew that I would love him no matter what he looked like."

Overcoming with optimism

Amy fondly calls 21-month-old Ollie her 'real life Pinocchio'.

He has undergone some painful operations to correct the defect and to help him breathe properly.

He is currently preparing for more reconstructive surgery as well as some dental work to align his teeth, reports BBC news.

Sadly, not everyone is sympathetic with Ollie's plight. Amy told BBC that her little boy suffered 'pathetic abuse' and bullying directed at him from strangers.

These strangers would taunt the boy with rude comments.

"I feel like I'm boiling, but I stay calm. I don't actually act on anything. I take the higher ground," she shares with BBC.

Despite all of this, Amy remains optimistic that her son will overcome all of this and grow up health and happy.

Partner Stories
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Is the Spice in Your Life Taking a Toll on Your Tummy?
Is the Spice in Your Life Taking a Toll on Your Tummy?
Read This Before You Enjoy the Satisfaction of Cracking Your Joints!
Read This Before You Enjoy the Satisfaction of Cracking Your Joints!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Paige Li

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • Meet the toddler whose brain grows through his nose
Share:
  • Toddler development and milestones: your 1 year and 9 month old

    Toddler development and milestones: your 1 year and 9 month old

  • Biliary Atresia In Children: All Parents Must Know About This Medical Condition

    Biliary Atresia In Children: All Parents Must Know About This Medical Condition

  • 'Your child hasn't even been born yet': Newly-wed dies in traffic accident along Gambas Ave

    'Your child hasn't even been born yet': Newly-wed dies in traffic accident along Gambas Ave

  • Delivery Rider Works 16 Hours a Day for Family, Realises Wife Cheating On Him, Son Not Biologically His

    Delivery Rider Works 16 Hours a Day for Family, Realises Wife Cheating On Him, Son Not Biologically His

app info
get app banner
  • Toddler development and milestones: your 1 year and 9 month old

    Toddler development and milestones: your 1 year and 9 month old

  • Biliary Atresia In Children: All Parents Must Know About This Medical Condition

    Biliary Atresia In Children: All Parents Must Know About This Medical Condition

  • 'Your child hasn't even been born yet': Newly-wed dies in traffic accident along Gambas Ave

    'Your child hasn't even been born yet': Newly-wed dies in traffic accident along Gambas Ave

  • Delivery Rider Works 16 Hours a Day for Family, Realises Wife Cheating On Him, Son Not Biologically His

    Delivery Rider Works 16 Hours a Day for Family, Realises Wife Cheating On Him, Son Not Biologically His

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.