One tiny movement left an entire hospital celebrating.

From her very first day, little Alice Vitória Nunes has been on a remarkable journey. Born on 15 July 2024 in Ituporanga, Santa Catarina, Brazil, she arrived with two extremely rare congenital conditions affecting her skull and brain: acrania (incomplete or absent formation of the skull bones that normally protect the brain) and occipital encephalocele (a neural-tube defect in which a portion of brain tissue and the membranes surrounding it protrude through an opening at the back of the skull).

Doctors had prepared her parents, including mother Stefanny Cristina Fischer Nunes, for the possibility that Alice might not survive more than a few minutes after the umbilical cord was cut. Despite the severe prognosis, Alice lived. Her family never stopped believing in her. They shared her story widely on social media and launched a crowdfunding campaign that ultimately raised more than 100,000 Brazilian reais from thousands of supporters. The funds made possible the delicate neurosurgery needed to address the encephalocele.

The operation was performed by paediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Alexandre Canheu. In the days and weeks that followed, Alice showed encouraging signs of progress, including the ability to lift her head—an achievement that brought joy to her family and medical team. She has required ongoing specialised care, including monitoring in intensive care, respiratory support at times, and multidisciplinary follow-up involving neurosurgery, physiotherapy, speech therapy and palliative-care specialists.

Acrania and encephalocele are rare neural-tube defects that occur early in pregnancy when the skull and brain fail to close properly. Survival beyond the newborn period is uncommon in severe cases, yet Alice has continued to surprise those caring for her. Her story has drawn attention both in Brazil and internationally, highlighting both the challenges of these conditions and the determination of families who refuse to give up hope.

Sources:

• Reporting from Revista Crescer (Globo), Vakinha crowdfunding updates, statements and videos from Dr. Alexandre Canheu, and related Brazilian media coverage (2024–2025) documenting Alice Vitória Nunes’ diagnosis of acrania and occipital encephalocele, fundraising for surgery, the operation, and her subsequent progress.