Families from across Baldwin County gathered at Elberta Town Park on a recent Saturday for a catfish-plate fundraiser supporting a newborn boy facing a rare medical condition. The infant, born in early March without a nose, has captured attention far beyond South Alabama since his story first spread online just weeks earlier.
The baby was delivered at South Baldwin Hospital in Foley before being transferred to a Mobile children’s hospital, where he spent more than three weeks receiving specialized care. Doctors diagnosed him with a condition known as complete congenital arhinia, an extremely rare anomaly that affects roughly one in 197 million births. Aside from missing an external nose and possibly part of his nasal passages, physicians say the child is otherwise healthy.
Five days after birth, the infant underwent a tracheotomy to assist his breathing. His mother has since become known locally for her determination to nurse him despite the surgical airway, an unusual feat that hospital staff say they rarely see attempted, let alone accomplished.
Word of the family’s situation spread quickly through a social media page created by friends to share updates and photographs. An accompanying online fundraiser climbed from a few thousand dollars to more than $40,000 within days of the story reaching national outlets, and a dedicated account was later opened at banks nationwide to accept additional donations for the child’s ongoing medical needs.
At Saturday’s event, roughly 150 people turned out for plates of catfish, face painting for children, a raffle and a silent auction, raising close to $3,000 for the family. A local band performed classic country and beach tunes throughout the afternoon as attendees mingled with the baby’s parents and extended family, many of whom had followed the child’s progress online for weeks.
The family, who splits time between Foley and Summerdale, said the past month has been a whirlwind of hospital visits, media requests and well-wishes from strangers around the world. A national television newsmagazine crew spent several hours filming the family at a relative’s home in west Mobile in the days before the fundraiser, with a segment expected to air later in the month.
Despite the outside attention, relatives say daily life has settled into a routine of feedings, naps and the ordinary business of caring for a newborn. The child’s mother said she has been especially grateful for the wave of community support, noting that donations both large and small have made a tangible difference as the family manages ongoing medical appointments and follow-up testing to determine the full scope of his condition.
Organizers of the Elberta fundraiser said they hope the outpouring of support continues as the family navigates the months ahead, with additional community events being discussed for later in the year.