A child with anencephaly is, of course, a traumatic and dramatic event. Fortunately, you might almost say, these children usually die during or shortly after birth. But not always. And then what? Nicholas Coke was born with a rare disease called anencephaly that meant he would never be able to perceive and think, there was only a brain stem. Doctors gave him only a few hours to live but miraculously this child celebrated his 2nd birthday.