‘Happy and smiling’ baby born with no eyes is in need of a loving home after his mother gave him up for adoption in Russia because she feared she could not cope
- Mother of eight-month-old baby born without eyes gave him up for adoption
- Little Alexander K – known as Sasha – is otherwise healthy but will never see
- Most babies born with the same condition also have multiple other ailments
- Sasha is one of only three babies registered in the world with no eyeballs at all
Baby Sasha was given up for adoption by his mother because she did not feel confident giving him all the care he would need
Russian adoption chiefs are seeking a loving home for a ‘unique’ baby boy born with no eyes.
Little Alexander K – known as Sasha – is otherwise healthy but will never see, say doctors.
The eight-month-old’s young mother was raised in an orphanage and decided before his birth to give up the child because she did not feel confident giving him all the help he would need.
A woman nurse in the Siberian city of Tomsk who is now caring for the six-month-old boy said: ‘He is no different to other children, he plays and smiles just like any healthy baby.
‘He loves playing and adores swimming. He is a very cheerful baby indeed.’
Enchanting Sasha is described as ‘unique’ because most babies born with the condition also have multiple other ailments.
The Russian boy has two benign cysts on his forehead which soon will be removed.
He is believed to suffer in extreme form from rare SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome which afflicts one in a quarter of a million.
Russian medics say Sasha is one of only three babies registered in the world with no eyeballs at all.
Baby Sasha (left and right) with a nurse at Tomsk specialised children orphanage in the Siberian city of Tomsk where he is being cared for. The search is on for a new loving home for the eight-month-old
There are two other cases of babies born without eyes registered in the world, according to doctors. The most well-documented of them is ‘miracle’ baby Archie Innes from the United Kingdom (above)
Tomsk doctor Tatiana Rudnikovich said: ‘Sasha is going through all regular check ups and tests like any other baby of his age. He is doing well.’
However, medics say there is currently ‘no chance’ that Sasha will ever see.
His adoption listing says the boy is ‘a peaceful, smiling baby’.
‘He smiles back as soon as he hears familiar voices. His mother signed his refusal papers in the maternity hospital.
‘There is no information about Alexander’s father and there is a ‘dash’ in his birth certificate where it should have been a name of the father.
‘Alexander is up for adoption or foster care.’
The child is initially up for adoption with Russian parents but if no-one suitable comes forward, he could go to foreign parents.
Currently there are restrictions to adoptions to the US.
Sasha is believed to suffer in extreme form from rare SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome which afflicts one in a quarter of a million
His adoption listing says the baby boy is ‘a peaceful, smiling baby’. He will need operations every six months or so to prevent his face becoming deformed
The boy’s carer nurse recently took him 2,500 miles to St Petersburg where surgeons implanted tiny eye orbs to ensure that his face is not deformed as he grows, reported The Siberian Times.
He will need such operations every six months or so, each time with larger orbs.
There are only two other cases of babies born without eyes registered in the world.
The most well-documented is ‘miracle’ baby Archie Innes, now two, born to Scottish parents Fiona and Steven Gould who currently live in Sydney, Australia.
His mother was told about Archie’s condition 31 weeks into her pregnancy, say reports.
In Archie’s case, he also has severe gross motor delay, mild-to-moderate hearing impairment, and moderate aspiration.