Born With Eleven Fingers but No Thumbs, Baby Olivia Needed Seven Surgeries to Help Her Hands Work Differently

When Tess and Scott welcomed their youngest daughter, Olivia, in 2011, they discovered that her tiny hands had developed in an extraordinary way.

Olivia had six digits on one hand and five on the other — but neither hand had a functioning thumb.

For most people, the thumb is essential for gripping objects, holding utensils and performing countless everyday activities. Without one, even simple childhood milestones can require a different approach.

But Olivia’s parents were already familiar with congenital hand differences. Their two older sons had been born with unusual thumb development, too.

Three Children, One Rare Genetic Condition

The family carries a rare inherited condition affecting the development of fingers and thumbs.

It falls within the spectrum of radial polydactyly with triphalangeal thumb, which can cause extra digits, additional bones and abnormal thumb development.

Their eldest son, Max, was born with three thumbs on one hand and two on the other.

Seven years later, their second son, Chase, arrived with two thumbs on one hand and a partially developed additional thumb on the other.

Then came Olivia, whose case was the most complex of the three.

Why Her Parents Were No Longer Afraid

When Max was born, Tess and Scott had been frightened and uncertain about what his future would look like.

A recommendation eventually brought them to Shriners Children’s St. Louis, where hand surgeons helped develop a long-term treatment plan.

By the time Olivia was born, the family had already built a trusting relationship with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Charles Goldfarb.

They knew that treatment would require patience, but they also understood that improving hand function was possible.

Creating Thumbs From Existing Fingers

Because Olivia had no thumbs, her doctors considered a reconstructive procedure called pollicization.

This operation involves repositioning an existing finger so that it can function as a thumb.

Dr. Goldfarb discussed Olivia’s unusually complex anatomy with other hand surgeons during an international medical conference in Vietnam.

The specialists agreed that waiting until her hands had developed further would provide a better opportunity for reconstruction.

In 2015, Olivia underwent the first of seven planned surgeries to create functional thumbs on both hands.

The Moment She Could Finally Grip Differently

Before reconstruction, Olivia had adapted by holding objects between her fingers in a scissor-like grip.

Following surgery, her mother noticed an important change: Olivia could grasp objects using her reconstructed thumbs.

The operations were not intended simply to make her hands look different. Their central purpose was to improve how she could use them.

By October 2024, Olivia had completed several years of treatment and was preparing for what her family expected to be her final operation the following month.

A Childhood Beyond the Operating Room

Despite her complicated medical history, Olivia developed a love for basketball and volleyball.

Her brothers also pursued their own interests. Chase became an accomplished bowler, while Max developed a music production business.

Across the three siblings, the family had undergone 17 surgeries by October 2024, with Olivia’s next procedure expected to bring the total to 18.

For Tess and Scott, their children’s journey demonstrated the value of long-term care from specialists who understood both the medical challenges and the personalities of the young patients they treated.

Olivia’s story began with a newborn who had eleven fingers but no thumbs. Years later, she was enjoying sports and everyday activities with hands reconstructed to help her grip and move more effectively.

Source: Shriners Children’s St. Louis, October 28, 2024 — Continuity of Care at Shriners Children’s: Three Siblings, One Doctor and 20 Years of Treatment.