Mother Spent Nights Holding a Massive Growth Away From Her Baby’s Face So He Could Breathe — Until Strangers Helped Save His Life

When Judith Destine welcomed her son Anderson in Bellevue, Haiti, in October 2016, she noticed a small bump on his nose.

But as the months passed, the growth became increasingly alarming.

What began as a small swelling developed into an enormous sac that eventually covered much of her baby’s face, obstructing his vision and partially blocking his nasal passages.

For Judith, nighttime became especially frightening. She had to physically lift the growth away from Anderson’s face so her little boy could breathe.

A Rare Birth Defect That Kept Growing

Anderson was born with a rare skull defect that allowed fluid and brain tissue to protrude through an abnormal opening.

As the sac enlarged, it became nearly as big as his face.

Without specialized treatment, doctors believed the condition would eventually become fatal.

For a family living in Haiti, however, accessing the advanced imaging, neurosurgical expertise and hospital resources needed to treat such a complex condition presented enormous challenges.

A Mother’s Visit That Changed Everything

In January 2017, Judith brought Anderson to a temporary medical clinic operated by a visiting team from Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing.

The group was led by clinical assistant professor Donna Cullinan, who had spent years participating in healthcare outreach in Haiti.

When the team examined Anderson, they immediately recognized that his condition required extraordinary medical attention.

Cullinan and fellow nurse practitioner Anne Zlevor began searching for a way to obtain the tests and treatment he desperately needed.

The first major obstacle was arranging an MRI scan, which they helped finance using their own money and contributions from supporters.

Strangers Work Together to Bring Anderson to America

Once Anderson’s condition had been assessed, the nurses understood that the necessary treatment could not be provided locally.

They began contacting medical professionals and organizations in the United States.

Eventually, they connected with neurosurgeon Dr. Vitaly Siomin at Baptist Health in South Florida, who agreed to take Anderson’s case without charging for his professional services.

Meanwhile, the team worked with a local volunteer to secure travel documents for Judith and her son.

After months of coordination, Anderson finally traveled to Miami for the operation that could save his life.

Life-Saving Surgery and a Remarkable Recovery

On June 26, 2017, Dr. Siomin and his surgical team removed Anderson’s large facial defect.

The following month, doctors implanted a permanent shunt to help drain excess fluid.

The procedures marked an extraordinary turning point for a baby whose condition had once made even breathing during sleep difficult.

Although Anderson would still require plastic surgery and ongoing medical monitoring, his healthcare team was optimistic about his future.

By September 2017, he and his mother had returned safely to Haiti.

Back Home With the Family Who Never Gave Up

Judith and Anderson were reunited with his father, Makeson Destine, and older sister, Judiemarlie.

For Judith, the journey had been filled with fear, uncertainty and the generosity of people who refused to abandon her son’s case.

She expressed immense gratitude to the nurses, volunteers and surgeons who helped make his treatment possible.

Anderson’s story is a reminder that a single encounter can change the course of a child’s life.

A mother who once spent her nights holding a dangerous growth away from her baby’s face could finally return home with renewed hope for his future.

Source: Boston College — One Boy’s Life, published September 27, 2017.