One-year-old baby fights to stay alive

KNOXVILLE (WVLT) – Sara Bullock talks and grins like any other one year old. The only only difference is she was born without parts of her brain.

“It’s a lot of holding, a lot of one-on-one with her,” said Sara’s dad, Jeremy Bullock. “She can’t sit up by herself or do what a one-year-old baby does.”

The toddler suffers from Hydranencephaly. It’s a rare neurological disorder that causes a baby to lack cerebral hemispheres. As a result, the empty space of the brain is filled with fluid, causing a child to have an enlarged head.

“It’s a learning experience, I guess,” said Jeremy. “It’s a lot of appointments,” he added.

According to Jeremy, doctors said Sara would live five minutes to an hour after birth. Since then, Jeremy said doctors have suggested the unthinkable.

Photo via WVLT

“Not let her live, let her die,” said Jeremy. “Yeah, they’ve always done that since the start,” he continued.

Jeremy is a single parent. He said he’s challenged with balancing his finances, while caring for Sara full time.

“Yeah, it’s hard,” said Jeremy. “I can’t work, no child care because she has special needs, feeding tubes,” he added.

Jeremy’s mother, Sheila Graham, created two GoFundMe accounts to help ease the financial burden. One is for Sara. The other is for Jeremy.

“I’m helping as much as I can but then to be in a position we’ve never been in before where you have to depend on others, and it’s so hard to ask for help,” said Graham.

Graham said she is not looking for a handout but for a definite way to allow her son to care for her grandchild.

“If they can’t donate money, maybe ideas, other resources,” said Graham.

Graham said every bit counts. She said she won’t stop working until Sara is cared for.

“She’s very lovable, one of the sweetest babies you’ll ever see,” said Graham.