A boy born without a brain passed away on Monday, August 25, after living for 12 years against the medical odds. When Trevor Waltrip was born, doctors predicted that the boy would die within 12 weeks. Instead, he lived for 12 years, a miracle of modern medicine.
Trevor suffered from hydranencephaly, a condition where the sufferer only has a brain stem, but does not have a brain. Trevor was able to breathe due to the brain stem, and he also had a heart beat, but because the boy lacked a brain he was not able to see or talk, although he could respond to stimuli.
Trevor Waltrip was born on December 24, 2001. Hydrancephaly is a rare congenital disorder where the brain is lacking both cerebral hemispheres. Instead, the skull fills with water. Hydrancephaly is sometimes characterized by a misshapen skull, caused by Hydrocephalus, excess water in the skull, which literally means "water on the brain." The cerebellum is not always absent in hydrancephaly, but Trevor was also born without a cerebellum.
Trevor's mother, Elizabeth Waltrip, told KSLA News that her son was aware of his surroundings, despite being born without a brain. "He's so alert and hates to be alone. He'll sense that, too," she said.
Most children with hydrancephaly do not even live to birth. However, for some reason, Trevor survived for long past the original 12 weeks that doctors gave him to live. When the boy had lived for 17 months, his doctor called him "unique."
Trevor lived thanks to intensive care, being fed through a tube and receiving physical therapy to keep his muscles in good shape. Elizabeth Waltrip found comfort in joining a support group for parents of children with hydrancephaly. "Just to know about other babies out there like this because I thought I was the only one. It's really ...I feel much better," she said.
There is currently no treatment for hydrancephaly.
Elizabeth Waltrip said that she thanked God every day for Trevor's continued life. "I look at it like he's here for a reason and I thank God every day for it," she said. Trevor's funeral was held on August 30 in his home state of Louisiana.
Anyone who wants to make a donation to help cover the costs of Trevor's funeral can make a donation to the "Trevor Judge Waltrip Donation Account" at any Chase Bank.
You can read more about hydrancephaly online here, at the International Hydranencephaly Website and Support Group. You can read more about Trevor Waltrip's amazing case on KSLA's website here.
