Unable to breathe normally through a nose, yet this little boy has shown incredible strength and continues to live a life full of courage — and he is still absolutely adorable.

Baby Eli Thompson was born on March 4, in Foley, Alabama, USA. At what should have been one of the happiest moments of her life, when she finally got to see her baby for the first time, Eli’s mother, MacGlathery, burst into tears after realizing that her newborn had been born without a nose.

The little boy also had no nasal passages, making it impossible for him to breathe and feed at the same time, and he was unable to make a normal cry. His condition is known as arhinia — an extremely rare congenital condition in which a baby is born without a nose. At the time, only 47 newborn cases of this condition had reportedly been identified worldwide.

Just minutes after being held in his mother’s arms, Eli had to be transferred to another hospital for intensive medical care. When he was only five days old, Eli underwent a major procedure to create an airway through his neck, and this procedure would need to be repeated periodically to help maintain his breathing.

Eli’s parents sometimes felt completely overwhelmed as several medical centers were unable to accept his case. Yet brave and determined little Eli continued to overcome one challenge after another and has remained healthy and strong through the years. In the future, Eli was expected to travel to the UK for a pioneering 3D nose reconstruction procedure, representing a new development in reconstructive care for children born without a nose.

The first child in the world to receive a 3D-printed nasal implant was Tessa Evans from the UK. Tessa was also born with the same rare condition as Eli, and in June, she received part of a prosthetic nose that was placed onto her face.

According to her treatment plan, the prosthetic structure would gradually help develop the bridge of her nose, gently stretching the surrounding skin so that her body could adapt as she grew. Every few years, the prosthetic structure would then be replaced with a larger one, allowing the reconstructed nose to develop alongside her growing face.

Through information they found online, Eli’s parents learned about Tessa’s journey and decided to bring Eli to the UK for an assessment. Fortunately, Eli’s and Tessa’s families were able to meet, talk and share their experiences of caring for their children.

Tessa’s mother later shared on Facebook: “When Tessa met Eli for the first time, it felt like a dream come true. She was so happy and kept hugging him, gently touching him and stroking his little head. The expression in Eli’s eyes as he looked up at Tessa was more precious and meaningful than any words could ever describe. For the children, it was simply the joy of meeting a new friend, but for us, it meant so much more.”

Eli’s mother replied: “There are no words to fully express how grateful I am for Tessa’s family sharing their experience and helping us. This meeting gave Eli a new opportunity. It was one of the most wonderful things to happen since the day he was born.”

Although Eli was born without a nose and has faced daily medical challenges while working to maintain his health, none of those obstacles could hide his adorable face or remarkable determination. His journey also inspired people online, with many Facebook users celebrating him as one of the most adorable little faces they had ever seen.

Eli and Tessa have shown that being different does not mean being any less beautiful. Sometimes, those very differences can reveal courage and resilience in the most powerful way — allowing their stories to reach and inspire people far beyond their own lives.