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Baby who underwent life-saving surgery for 7-pound growth on head resting at home

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A baby boy is resting in the arms of his parents in Johnstown, Pa., something Kevin and Jennifer Sheridan thought might never happen.

When Jennifer Sheridan was pregnant she received grim news.  Part of her baby's brain was growing outside of his skull, a condition known as encephalocele. Doctors said he likely wouldn't survive birth.

"We were made to believe that his brain was in such a condition that he wouldn't be born," said Kevin Sheridan.

"We were hoping we would get a couple minutes with him.  That's pretty much what we were hoping for, but when he was born, and we heard him cry, it was pretty amazing," said Jennifer Sheridan.

The Sheridans contacted several hospitals before finding doctors at Boston's Children's Hospital willing to perform the life-saving surgery.

"I think it was something so incredibly rare that it intimidated a lot of medical professionals," said Kevin Sheridan.

The Sheridans said that Owen's risks have diminished tremendously since the surgery.

They consider each day with Owen a gift.

"These things do happen.  Don't give up.  Do what's best for your child and continue to fight for him," said Kevin Sheridan.

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