Baby Born with ‘Ear on His Right Cheek,' Leaving His Parents Shocked and Confused: 'No Preparation for It'

Mar. 15, 2025

When Vinnie James was born to Grace and Rhys James four months ago, he “wasn’t breathing,” his father, 26, says, according toThe Daily Mail.

“They rushed him over to a table, and I didn’t know what to do [so] I went into the toilet and started praying,' James said. When he looked at his son, “I noticed a small ear on his right cheek. I didn’t know what had happened — I was really shocked in the moment.”

Mom Grace James holds son Vinnie, who was born with a rare syndrome.Rhys James / SWNS

Rhys James / SWNS

James said his son was rushed into surgery immediately following his birth; Vinnie subsequently spent 65 days in the hospital for medical interventions from what was later diagnosed asGoldenhar syndrome.

TheCleveland Clinicestimates that it affects between 1 in 3,500 and 1 in 25,000 births.

“We didn’t know what it was, we were really shocked and had no preparation for it. We sat there, confused and tired,” James says — sharing that it was the beginning of a long medical journey for his son.

At just a month and a half, Vinnie had to have atracheostomy— asurgically created holein the front of his neck — to help him breathe, but struggles with frequent chest infections.

As aGoFundMethat’s been established to help support the family explains, Vinnie will need to undergo “numerous medical procedures, including receiving a prosthetic eye, which will require annual adjustments as he grows.”

There are also plans for surgery to relocate his ear.

A GoFundMe has been established to help support Vinnie James as he’s facing several medical interventions.Rhys James / SWNS

“We’re still new to this, but we’ve learned to adapt to the situation and use it as a positive to spread awareness for those who suffer from disabilities,” James says. Vinnie’s mother, Grace, 25, has left her receptionist job to care for Vinnie full-time.

“We want to push people to contact us, if they feel like they’re struggling," James said. “We’d love to speak to people and tell them how we got through this journey and give them advice.”

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source: people.com