Baby boy is unable to open his mouth

April 22, 2014  14:54

Canadian baby was born nine months ago normal in every way but one: Wyatt Scott has a disorder that keeps him from opening his jaw, the CBC reports.

The condition, called congenital trismus, is so rare that his Ottawa doctors still aren't sure how to help him. He's already had one horrifying episode, in which he started vomiting but couldn't open his mouth to get it out. He was rushed to the hospital, crying and choking, and lost consciousness—but luckily suffered no brain damage, the Ottawa Citizen reports.

The condition comes with other problems, too, like an inability to blink, use facial muscles, or swallow, so he drools more than most other young babies.

Doctors think he might have a muscle problem—CT and MRI scans have shown no signs of a fused joint or extra tissue—but anesthesiologists won't put him under so doctors can carry out a necessary muscle biopsy because Wyatt's closed mouth blocks his airways, ABC News reports.

Now his parents have created a website to solicit advice from around the world, and nurses have emailed dozens of tips for raising a baby that's fed through tubes—but still, no grand solution. Additionally, a fundraiser has been set up for Wyatt by someone interested in his story.

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