Seeing a child smile is one of life\u2019s greatest joys\u2014but for Victoria LaBrie, it\u2019s something her daughter Hazel may never do. When Hazel was born in December 2024, Victoria immediately sensed something was wrong\u2014her baby couldn\u2019t close her eyes or smile.<\/p>\n
Doctors later diagnosed Hazel with Moebius syndrome<\/strong>, a rare, incurable disorder that causes facial paralysis and prevents blinking. It affects an estimated 2 to 20 babies per million births.<\/p>\n Victoria recalled realizing the issue right after birth: \u201cAs soon as they handed her to me and I saw her eyes open, I knew something wasn\u2019t right.\u201d After two weeks of tests, Hazel\u2019s diagnosis was confirmed. She has since undergone multiple brain surgeries and also lives with Hydrocephalus<\/strong>, a buildup of fluid in the brain.<\/p>\n Victoria, 31, is also raising four other children\u2014three with autism and one with ADHD. She shares their story online to raise awareness and inspire others, saying, \u201cPeople tell me they didn\u2019t know they should be grateful for blinking.\u201d<\/p>\n To support her family, Victoria has launched a GoFundMe<\/strong> to find a home for her and her five special-needs children, raising around $7,000 so far.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Seeing a child smile is one of life\u2019s greatest joys\u2014but for Victoria LaBrie, it\u2019s something her daughter Hazel may never do. When Hazel was born in December 2024, Victoria immediately sensed something was wrong\u2014her baby couldn\u2019t close her eyes or smile. Doctors later diagnosed Hazel with Moebius syndrome, a rare, incurable disorder that causes facial…<\/p>\n