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Boy With Rare Airway Disorder Continues To Make Strides

EASTPOINTE (WWJ) - One year ago, WWJ told you about the miraculous life of little Grant Hasse of Eastpointe.  Born with an airway disorder so rare, there are only 50 cases reported world-wide, and after some 12 surgeries he is now a happy, healthy toddler.

This month Grant turns two, and WWJ Newsradio 950's Marie Osborne reports the miracles keep coming for Grant and his family.

Born with a condition known as CHAOS (Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome) - which is a complete airway obstruction - doctors at the University of Michigan constructed new vocal cords out of cartilage - Grant's vocal cords show movement but no sounds yet.

Baby Grant 2 Credit Rachel Schlief GradyGrant independently signs 35 words, says his mom Andrea Hasse. She says the sign that he hates most ... is 'no.'

Grant is in good health and no longer ventilator dependent, and while small for most 2-year-olds, he is developing normally.

Andrea says that initially they thought that Grant had vocal cords, "But come to find out during the surgery Grant did not have any vocal cords.

"This last surgery that he had last month - Dr. Green was astonished and he saw that both vocals cords, completely man-made and created were vibrating. So they believe that Grant will have full potential to speak one day."

Doctors expect to remove his trachea within a the year.

Just recently his parents bundled him into a jogging stroller and ran a 5k race.

Andrea has begun post-graduate work at the University of Michigan and is excited about the future.

"I'm so thankful for the opportunity - that Grant has showed us that we can do the impossible," said Andrea.

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