Woman Born Without A Brain Turns 20 As Family Call Her A True ‘Miracle’

Doctors once told Alex Simpson’s parents that she wouldn’t survive beyond early childhood — but she’s now celebrating her 20th birthday.

Alex Simpson has done what few ever imagined possible — she’s just turned 20 years old, defying every medical prediction made at her birth.

Born in Nebraska, Alex entered the world as a healthy-looking baby, bringing immense joy to her parents. But only two months later, her family received devastating news that changed everything. Doctors discovered that something was terribly wrong with her brain development.

Alex was diagnosed with hydranencephaly, a rare neurological condition that affects the way a baby’s brain forms before birth, leaving doctors unsure of how long she might live.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, hydranencephaly occurs when a baby “is missing certain portions of their brain called the cerebral hemispheres.” The condition is extremely rare, appearing in just one out of every 5,000 to 10,000 pregnancies worldwide.

In Alex’s extraordinary case, she was born without a functioning brain. Her father explained that only a tiny piece — about the size of half a pinky finger — remains in the back of her cerebellum.

Doctors gave her parents, Shawn and Lorena Simpson, an incredibly grim outlook. They were told their daughter would likely not live to see her fifth birthday, and that each day they had with her would be a gift.

But against all odds, Alex has continued to defy expectations. She recently marked her 20th birthday, an incredible milestone that her family describes as nothing short of miraculous.

When asked by KETV what they believe helped their daughter survive so long, Shawn and Lorena didn’t hesitate — they said it all came down to love, faith, and never giving up hope.

Reflecting on the journey, Shawn shared: “Twenty years ago we were scared, but faith, I think, is really what kept us alive.”

Despite her condition, Alex’s family says she’s far more aware of her surroundings than most people realize. While she cannot see or hear, they believe she senses the world in her own unique way.

“You can see that when I went up there and talked to her a little bit ago, she was looking for me,” Shawn explained, noting how she seems to respond to his presence even without words or touch.

Her younger brother, SJ, agrees. He described how deeply connected Alex seems to be with the emotions of those around her, saying: “Say somebody’s stressed around her. Nothing will even happen — it could be completely silent — but Alex will know. She’ll feel something.”

Alex’s parents say that ‘love’ is what has kept her alive for so longKETV

Looking back on Alex’s early years, her mother Lorena remembers how frightening those first nights were. Every breath, every sound felt like a moment of uncertainty as she watched over her newborn daughter.

“It was terrible to not know if she was going to make it through the night,” Lorena told the Daily Mail, recalling how she often stayed awake just to make sure Alex was still alive.

“So for three years, I would sleep with her, making sure that she’s breathing, making sure that she’s moving.”

“Every night I was praying and praying she’d make it through.”

Speaking around the same time, Shawn expressed his hope that people would see beyond Alex’s disability and understand how much value her life truly holds.

He said: “A lot of people think she’s just a vegetable, and we have heard tons of negative comments.”

“It’s one of our missions in life to let people know that just because people are disabled doesn’t mean they don’t have a right to enjoy life as much as possible.”

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