Baby boy who suffers from rare disorder was born with an ear on his cheek

Pregnancy remains one of life's most incredible miracles. While you are growing another human being, anything can happen. Sometimes, parts of the baby's body can end up somewhere else, or they can up distorted. Little Vinnie, from England, was born with an extra ear on his cheek. This was the result of a rare disorder called Goldenhar Syndrome.

Vinnie was born with an ear on his cheek

Grace and Rhys James, from Wales, welcomed a baby boy named Vinnie on 9 November 2024. Vinnie was not breathing, so he was immediately sent to the intensive care unit, where he had to be put on a ventilator. Rhys told the Sun:

When Grace gave birth, he wasn't breathing, so they rushed him over to a table, and I didn't know what to do, I went into the toilet and started praying.

That is when he noticed a detail on his son's face that left him confused. Indeed, Vinnie was born with an extra ear on his cheek. Rhys explained:

I then noticed a small ear on his right cheek, I didn't know what had happened - I was really shocked in the moment.

Vinnie was also born without a right eye. It took doctors two months to finally diagnose him with an extremely rare disorder known as Goldenhar Syndrome. Since then, the baby boy has undergone surgery to get a tracheostomy, which allows air to move directly into the lungs, bypassing the nose and mouth, to help him breathe. Thankfully, he was taken off the ventilator after one week, as Rhys told TheSun:

After surgery, he was on a ventilator, but doctors started to realise his lungs were too strong, and he was breathing against the machine, so he was off the ventilator within a week. It was really amazing, we knew he was progressing.

Vinnie stayed in the hospital for nearly 70 days, and he still needs constant care. He is in the process of getting a prosthetic eye fitted, and he will need surgery in the coming years to remove the extra ear on his cheek.

What is Goldenhar Syndrome?

According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Goldenhar Syndrome is an extremely rare disorder, characterized by abnormal development of the eyes, ear and spine. It was first discovered in 1952 by ophthalmologist and GP Maurice Goldenhar. The condition affects about one baby in 3,000 to 5,000 births.

Goldenhar Syndrome usually causes deformities in one side of the body, such as half-formed or absent ears, benign growths in the eyes and spinal abnormalities like scoliosis. These deformities can have consequences on other organs such as the heart, kidneys, lungs and nervous system.

Doctors are still in the dark as to why Goldenhar Syndrome happens. Most cases occur in families that had no prior history with the condition. However, in rare cases, the disorder can be passed down genetically. The syndrome can cause children to be deaf in one or both ears, trouble breathing and eating, as well as cardiac defects.

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Sources used:

The Sun: LITTLE MIRACLE Our beautiful baby boy was born with an ear on his right cheek – we hope he will inspire others

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Goldenhar syndrome