A 22-year-old man who was born without a nose and right frontal lobe has survived 28 surgeries.

Gray Canales and his family revealed in an interview that their Christian faith helped them get through their medical journey. people.

“People say, 'God gives special needs children to special parents,'” said Canales' father, John. “But we were just dealing with the day-to-day thing like any other parent.”

The parents were told that a baby born without a nose would not survive. After 28 surgeries, he's thriving (Exclusive) https://t.co/Sk1CAXqCtk

— People (@people) January 28, 2024

According to the newspaper, Canales has undergone 11 nose reconstruction surgeries, including grafting cartilage from his ribs, skin and thighs, and having a skin dilator inserted into his forehead to stretch the skin for the surgery. It is said that

According to the report, doctors told Canales' parents that their baby's nose was not detected during a 20-week ultrasound, and that Canales was unlikely to survive after birth and was unable to breathe on his own. He reportedly warned her that he would become deaf.

The newspaper reported that Canales was born able to breathe on his own after his parents decided not to terminate the pregnancy. However, he lacked a right frontal lobe, leaving his left side partially mobile. (Related article: 'I'm so happy to be alive': Woman wakes up as an amputee after routine kidney stone surgery)

“We taught our son not to feel sorry for himself,” the father said. “Because there are a lot of other people with disabilities. We said to him, 'This is the way God created you.' That's all. '”

According to the outlet, Canales has two more nose reconstruction surgeries left before the process is complete. He plans to receive job training at the Texas Workforce Commission in hopes of helping people with disabilities.

“I can't wait for my life to no longer be interrupted by surgery,” Canales told the magazine. “We can finally start making plans for the future.”