Seeing a child smile is one of life’s greatest joys—but for Victoria LaBrie, it’s something her daughter Hazel may never do. When Hazel was born in December 2024, Victoria immediately sensed something was wrong—her baby couldn’t close her eyes or smile.
Doctors later diagnosed Hazel with Moebius syndrome, a rare, incurable disorder that causes facial paralysis and prevents blinking. It affects an estimated 2 to 20 babies per million births.
Victoria recalled realizing the issue right after birth: “As soon as they handed her to me and I saw her eyes open, I knew something wasn’t right.” After two weeks of tests, Hazel’s diagnosis was confirmed. She has since undergone multiple brain surgeries and also lives with Hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain.
Victoria, 31, is also raising four other children—three with autism and one with ADHD. She shares their story online to raise awareness and inspire others, saying, “People tell me they didn’t know they should be grateful for blinking.”
To support her family, Victoria has launched a GoFundMe to find a home for her and her five special-needs children, raising around $7,000 so far.