A Race Against Time at Birth
For Marciliana Demjenski and Valmir Pereira, welcoming another child into their family was a dream two years in the making. However, what should have been a moment of pure celebration turned into an extraordinary battle for survival.
During a routine 18-week ultrasound, doctors detected a rare abnormality developing from the fetus’s oral cavity. The diagnosis was epignathus—an extremely rare congenital teratoma estimated to occur in roughly one out of every one million live births.
As the pregnancy progressed, specialists closely monitored the growth via weekly ultrasounds. By week 35, with the tumor expanding rapidly and threatening to block the baby’s airway completely, an emergency multidisciplinary C-section was scheduled.
When baby Braian Demjenski Pereira was delivered, the facial growth weighed 800 grams—accounting for nearly one-third of his total birth weight. Covering his mouth entirely, it made normal breathing impossible, resulting in a critical Apgar score of just 1.
Fighting for Every Breath
The moments following birth required immediate medical intervention. Surgeons performed an emergency tracheostomy right in the delivery room to establish a viable airway.
In the critical hours that followed, Braian suffered multiple cardiac arrests. Medical teams worked tirelessly to stabilize his fragile vital signs as he was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Simultaneously, his mother faced severe complications from childbirth due to heavy blood loss. Separated during the first 12 hours of Braian’s life, mother and son fought their respective battles in different wards of the hospital.
A Surgical Victory and the Road to Recovery
Two weeks after birth, once Braian was stabilized, a team of specialized surgeons at Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças in Curitiba, Brazil, performed a delicate operation to excise the massive 800g tumor.
The operation was a complete success, but his recovery journey was just beginning. Braian remained hospitalized for three months under intense neurological, respiratory, and nutritional monitoring.
Day by day, the infant demonstrated remarkable resilience:
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Steady Physical Progress: He steadily gained weight and built up physical strength.
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Reduced Dependency: Doctors were able to phase out early post-operative medications.
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Developmental Milestones: Neurological evaluations showed encouraging signs as he began reaching age-appropriate developmental milestones.
Looking Toward a Bright Future
While the primary growth has been successfully removed, Braian’s medical journey involves ongoing care. He continues to see specialists for routine checkups to monitor for recurrence, alongside plastic and reconstructive surgeons who will guide his facial development over time.
Now approaching his first birthday, Braian’s story stands as a powerful testament to medical innovation, parental strength, and the profound resilience of life.