A real-life ‘unicorn baby’ was born with a ‘horn’ growing from his head.
Seven-week-old boy Nhel Jhon Prado suffers from encephalocele, which doctors failed to detect while he was in the womb.
Speaking of her surprise at seeing the egg-sized lump, Nhel’s mother Angel Puerto, 20, said: ‘We have never seen a baby like this before, so we try to look at it like a blessing. Like he is a special little unicorn baby.’
Although Angel and Nhel’s father Ronel Prado, 20, a delivery driver, were able take their son to their home in Manila, Philippines, he has since needed round-the-clock care to redress the bandages on his tender lump, which is growing rapidly.
The family are waiting for a life-saving operation to remove the birth defect at Pasig General Hospital, which is due to take place in the coming weeks but is being delayed due to costs.
Although the operation is critical, Nhel’s parents have been told their son has suffered no brain damage and should go on to live a healthy life if the procedure is successful.
Nhel Jhon Prado has been called a ‘unicorn baby’ due to a ‘horn’ growing from his head
His mother Angel Puerto (pictured), 20, sees the growth as ‘special’ and ‘a blessing’
His parents (pictured with Nhel at the Pasig General Hospital in Manila) were shocked when he was born with the egg-sized lump, which has since swelled to double in size
‘We will do everything we can’
CT scans show Nhel’s growth is benign and has not affected his brain.
Ronel said: ‘I hope that my baby gets better soon. I know he can do it. We will do everything we can.
‘The swelling has grown so quickly it’s hard to believe. It has doubled in size in just a few weeks.
‘I would like to see my boy get older so I can play soccer with him like other children do. He deserves that, he’s so beautiful.’
Angel added: ‘The doctors used ultrasound tests but didn’t notice anything wrong with Nhel while I was pregnant.
‘When he was born they said my baby is lucky that the brain was not affected or damaged by the lumps.
‘We still don’t know yet how to pay the medical bills. We just have to figure that out once the operation is done, but for now, our priority is to get him the surgery.’
Scans show Nhel’s growth is benign and has not caused him to suffer any brain damage
Nevertheless, the youngster still requires life-saving surgery to remove the birth defect
Nhel’s growth, which is leaking watery fluid, has to be permanently covered in bandages
He requires round-the-clock care to redress the bandages on his delicate swelling
Extra care needs to be taken when Nhel is sleeping or when his parents pick him up
Growth has to be permanently wrapped in bandages
Nhel is believed to have developed the growth during the later stages of his mother’s pregnancy, however, its exact cause is unknown.
The swelling contains lots of watery liquid, which has requires the growth be permanently wrapped in bandages to prevent bleeding or injuries.
Nhel’s parents have to be particularly careful not to knock the defect when picking him up.
Extra care also needs to be taken while Nhel is sleeping.
Nhel’s father Ronel says the couple will do anything they can to help their ‘deserving’ son
Ronel added his son is ‘beautiful’ and he wants him to heal so they can play football together
Angel says they do not know how they will pay their medical bills but will sort that out later