Prior to the birth of Eli Thompson, his father joked about his appearance, hoping his son wouldn’t inherit it. However, moments after Eli was born, the mood shifted from joy to concern when it was noticed that something was wrong. Eli was born in 2015 with congenital arhinia, a rare condition where the nasal passages or sinuses don’t form. This condition is extremely uncommon.

Despite his condition, Eli’s lack of a nose didn’t seem to bother him at all, according to his mother, Brandi McGlathery. Five days after being admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Eli underwent a tracheotomy.

McGlathery expressed gratitude towards the nurses who went above and beyond in caring for Eli, even developing an affectionate bond with him. She emphasized that they believed Eli was great just the way he was, and they would refrain from touching him unless he requested it. They took each day as it came.

According to Eli’s mother, surgical reconstruction of his nasal passages would have to wait until after puberty. She decided to prevent him from undergoing unnecessary cosmetic surgery until then.

Tragically, Eli passed away at the age of two at the Mobile  Spring Hill Medical Center. His father, Jeremy Finch, announced the news on Facebook, expressing gratitude for the time they had with Eli and acknowledging that it was God’s time to bring him home.

Thousands of Facebook users offered condolences to Eli’s family in response to Finch’s post. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Eli’s story touched the hearts of many, reminding us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment with our loved ones.