Brainless baby turns 1.

[Mayareira]

Pueblo, Colorado--A baby boy in Pueblo is a living miracle. Nicholas Coke was born without a brain. This week he's marked a milestone nobody dreamed could happen.

Coke was born with a genetic disease called Anencephaly. He had no brain, just a brain stem. His mom Sheena says, "He can't see, he can't hear, he can't suck. He doesn't crawl, doesn't sit up."

Most of these babies die within hours, but Nicholas survived a few days, then a few months.
A year later, it's a true Christmas miracle. He is at a party to celebrate his first birthday. Sheena says, "He's a miracle. He's changed so many lives."

He somehow survived without doctors, or tubes. Sheena says he even shows signs of emotion. "He's smiling. He's laughed for the first time. It was wonderful to hear him laugh," says Sheena.

With this joy, comes a constant thought. How long can little Nicholas fight? Sheena tears up as she says, "It's hard to know that I'm going to be burying my son soon, but it's wonderful to know he's made it a year."

So, they take advantage of every moment. They celebrate every milestone as if it's their last, and keep hope that their Saint Nicholas will continue to fight for his life.

http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/baby-...irst-birthday/

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/....baby.pkg.koaa

[Mizango]

Sometimes you just have to let go. I mean at what point does being selfish override being rational?

[Rhinox]

Wtf

This lady has to be the most hardcore pro-lifer or someone who probably won't be able to get pregnant again either because she is ugly as sin or 800 pounds.

[Ksandra]

Sometimes you just have to let go. I mean at what point does being selfish override being rational?

he's not hooked up to anything so not like it's a tube baby. In such a situation it would be weird to give it a lethal injection imo. I can't imagine it's in pain.

[Rhinox]

It's a Husk. It's not even Human

[_chuchu]

he's not hooked up to anything so not like it's a tube baby. In such a situation it would be weird to give it a lethal injection imo. I can't imagine it's in pain.

It would probably laugh seeing that it's all that it has learned to do so far

[Mayareira]

Yeah its quite messed up. Watch the video on CNN link...he is just like a regular baby.

Except he doesn't see, hear, cry, laugh, drink, eat etc. by himself afaik.

[Kuya]

Wait, it only has a brain stem? Then it is really a person?

[Ksandra]

It would probably laugh seeing that it's all that it has learned to do so far

the fact he can laugh I find pretty amazing actually. I was talking to a friend and I'm not even sure how he was able to develop that with just a brain stem. We were wondering if she's just trying too hard since it doesn't show him laughing and he might not be doing anything.

[Chun Liroy]

So... what is everything else? Just blood? I say we take some stem cells and throw em in there an see what happens.

[Mayareira]

More info about the disease. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anencephaly

Image of the newborn may not be life-safe.

In almost all cases anencephalic infants are not aggressively resuscitated since there is no chance of the infant ever achieving a conscious existence. Instead, the usual clinical practice is to offer hydration, nutrition and comfort measures and to "let nature take its course". Artificial ventilation, surgery (to fix any co-existing congenital defects), and drug therapy (such as antibiotics) are usually regarded as futile efforts. Clinicians and medical ethicists may view the provision of nutrition and hydration as medically futile.

[Mizango]

It's a Husk. It's not even Human

<3 I shall play 2:30am ME in your honor. Also I hadnt forgot about you, going to email you some nifty wallpapers

[Darus Grey]

Research has suggested that, overall, female babies are more likely to be affected by the disorder.

Females are more likely to be born brainless? I am shocked.

[Mizango]

Females are more likely to be born brainless? I am shocked.

^

[Chun Liroy]

We should implant some artificial intelligence. ROBOBABY SHALL LIVE. owait

[Kaylia]

Pretty sad stuff...I'm not sure why people are blamming the parent, it must be terrible.

Wait, it only has a brain stem? Then it is really a person?

Oh oh, clever.

[Maguspk]

More info about the disease. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anencephaly

Image of the newborn may not be life-safe.

Dear god that newborn picture is creepy as fuck.

[Pirian]

Dear god that newborn picture is creepy as fuck.

That shit would haunt my dreams for the rest of my life if it was my child

[Akucaen]

<3 I shall play 2:30am ME in your honor.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that immediately thought of those when I saw the word husk. That aside, that's all the child is... there's no point in keeping it alive. Yes, killing it would be extremely awkward, but it can't... ever do anything.

[Nuker]

That's fucking horrible. put him/her/it/stem down.