An American woman from Omaha, Nebraska, has reached her 20th birthday despite being born without a brain, defying initial medical expectations. Alex Simpson was diagnosed with hydranencephaly, a rare condition where the brain’s hemispheres fail to develop, when she was two months old. Doctors initially predicted she would not live past the age of four.
Alex’s father, Shawn Simpson, attributed their faith to sustaining the family through the uncertainty surrounding her condition. Hydranencephaly typically results in fatality within the first year of life, affecting about one in 5,000 to one in 10,000 pregnancies. Though Alex cannot see or hear, her family attests to her deep awareness of their presence and emotional responses.
Her brother, SJ, expressed pride in being Alex’s sibling and shared his efforts to understand and support her. The family provides round-the-clock care and tailored routines to cater to Alex’s needs, relying on touch, routine, and familiarity for communication.
Despite the challenges, the Simpsons credit love and faith for Alex’s prolonged life, describing her as a resilient fighter. They view her 20th birthday as a miraculous milestone that surpassed medical prognoses. By sharing Alex’s story, the family aims to raise awareness about hydranencephaly and challenge perceptions about quality of life for individuals with such conditions.