“One in 500 trillion.”
Little Hunter, Jackson and Kaden Howard from Center Moriches in New York have been through the mill.
The six month old triplets were born with craniosynostosis, a rare condition where a baby’s soul fuses prematurely, meaning their heads were abnormally shaped.
Their case was highly unusual medically – they were the first known triplets to be born with the condition.
“That’s what made the situation so rare…the probability is on the order of one in 500 trillion,” Dr David Chesler, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Stony Brook University Hospital where the babies were treated, told People.
They underwent laparoscopic surgery in New York in January of this year when they were just 11 weeks old.
Their procedures were successful and while the boys will have to wear helmets for several months to allow their skulls to heal properly, they’re recovering well.
“They’re making all of their developmental milestones,” said Dr Chesler.
“And from a cosmetics standpoint their outcomes are great. They have almost normal-sized heads at this point. Aside from the helmets you wouldn’t know there’s a problem. Overall, they’re happy, well-adjusted babies.”
Parents Amy and Mike Howard are delighted with the triplets progress and said the boys are adjusting well.
“Honestly, they don’t seem to mind the helmets at all,” said Amy.
“The first week they were a little fussy with them but now I take them off and put them back on no problem.”
