Before Eli Thompson came into the world, his father jokingly expressed a wish that his son wouldn’t inherit his own looks. However, the mood in the delivery room shifted drastically moments after Eli’s birth, with an air of concern filling the space. Brandi McGlathery, Eli’s mother, immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Born in 2015 with congenital arhinia, a rare condition where the nostrils, nasal, or sinus cavities fail to develop, Eli began breathing through his lips on March 4 in a bar in Mobile, Alabama, according to his mother. Remarkably, the absence of a nose didn’t seem to bother him at all.
Five days after being admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Eli underwent a tracheotomy. McGlathery praised the care provided by the medical staff, stating, “The nurses here and at the Ronald McDonald House have gone above and beyond.” She even humorously mentioned a nurse’s affectionate visits to her “lover” for check-ups.
When asked about Eli’s unique condition, McGlathery pointed to her son’s crib, saying, “We think he’s great just the way he is.” She emphasized that they would avoid unnecessary cosmetic surgery until Eli reached puberty, and the reconstruction of his nasal pᴀssages could be considered.
Tragically, at the age of 2, Eli pᴀssed away at the Mobile Spring Hill Medical Center. Jeremy Finch, Eli’s father, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, saying, “We lost our little friend last night.”
Despite the sorrow, Finch expressed graтιтude for having such a wonderful child in their lives. He acknowledged that Eli’s life ended earlier than expected but believed it was God’s time to bring him home.
This poignant journey of Eli Thompson, marked by uniqueness and challenges, serves as a reminder of the resilience and love that surrounded him until his untimely departure.
