Childbirth is truly a miracle of life. From the moment of conception to the time the baby is born, it's just a miraculous thing that seems so normal. Just thinking about the fact that we start out as a tiny microscopic being and begin developing organs, limbs, and everything else, all while we're inside of another human being! Sadly, since the process is such a delicate one, there is a lot of room for errors that are often outside of our control. There are so many diseases that can drastically alter the life of a baby, but learning to cope and adjust to the challenges that are presented is what shows true love. Unfortunately for Dustin and Sierra Yoder, they were told that their baby had a severe disease that would result in his death. They were given no hope and told to expect the worst.
Doctors had told Dustin and Sierra Yoder that their baby, Bentley, would be born with encephalocele, a birth defect that causes the brain to protrude outside of the skull. Sadly, this birth defect is generally considered to be fatal and that's why the Yoder's only brought a single onesie to the hospital with them. Bentley was expected to die during childbirth, so they only brought a onesie to give him something to wear while being buried. That's when they were given hope. Instead of passing during birth, Bentley held on. The doctors and nurses said he would only have hours to live, so they attempted to give him the most comfort they could possibly give. Bentley showed no sign of quitting and he held on for months. It seemed like a waiting game for the Yoder's, then they discovered Dr. John Meara at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Meara gave the Yoder's hope when all other doctor's told them there was none. Using a 3D printed version of Bentley's skull, Dr. Meara came up with a way to slice Bentley's skull open like flower petals, allowing the brain room to fit. He would then create a criss-cross with existing parts of Bentley's skull, safely sealing the brain in. While Bentley is expected to experience developmental delays, he is still going strong. Watch the video for the full story of baby Bentley's story!
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