It was unthinkable. After he was born, Adam’s parents refused to take him home. They said if doctors forced them to take him, they would poison their own newborn baby in fear of being shamed. Adam was born with a functioning brain, heart and lungs. He entered the world, however, without eyelids, nose, and hands. His legs were also fused together. His parents thought they could either leave their son or sadly kill him.

Raja and Jessica Paulraj, a married couple who were also the doctor and nurse who treated Adam, could not take this. Jessica held the baby boy lovingly in her arms.

She and Raja knew they had to take him. Adam was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as Bartsocas-Papas syndrome. The pair took their new son to a specialist, where he had numerous surgeries.

But the bills would be steep. Then, something amazing happened. The community came together and raised $100,000 for the baby “nobody wanted” in just a week. Now, Adam is able to close his eyes and mouth for the first time.

“Is he going to be perfect? Yes, he’s already perfect. Is he going to be normal by the world’s standards? Never,” said Adam’s doctor, John van Aalst.

Through the love and care of Raja and Jessica, and with the help of their community, Adam is a happy, beloved baby boy.