US Woman Born With No Brain Defies Odds, Celebrate 20th Birthday

Alex Simpson, a 20-year-old woman from Omaha, Nebraska, has stunned the medical community by reaching her 20th birthday despite being born with hydranencephaly, a rare and severe neurological disorder. Doctors had initially warned her parents that she would likely not survive past the age of four.

Alex was born with most of her brain’s hemispheres missing, a condition replaced by cerebrospinal fluid. Hydranencephaly typically leads to death within the first year of life, making Alex’s survival a remarkable case. Her father, Shawn Simpson, explained, “Technically, she has about half the size of my pinky finger of her cerebellum in the back part of her brain, but that’s all that’s there.”

Despite her condition, Alex cannot see or hear, yet her family believes she senses their presence and emotions. Her 14-year-old brother, SJ, shared, “She’ll feel if someone’s hurting or stressed. It’s incredible how she connects with the world around her.”

Her parents, Shawn and Lorena Simpson, credit their unwavering love and faith for Alex’s extraordinary journey. “Twenty years ago, we were scared, but faith kept us going,” Shawn said. Alex celebrated her 20th birthday on November 4 with family and friends, marking a milestone her doctors once deemed impossible.

Hydranencephaly occurs in approximately 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 10,000 pregnancies and is caused by severe damage to the developing brain during fetal life, often due to stroke, infection, or trauma. Babies with this condition may appear normal at birth but later show severe developmental delays, seizures, and sensory impairments. While there is no cure, supportive care can prolong life in rare cases.

Alex’s story is a poignant reminder of the power of love, resilience, and hope. Her family describes her as a “fighter,” proving that medical predictions are not always absolute.