Defying prognoses and serving the community, that’s what one east Alabama family is doing every day.
Only one in 100,000 babies are born with lissencephaly. Three years ago on Oct. 21, 2019, one Pittsview, Ala. resident became the one. Meet Sophia Nichols. One month after she was brought home, doctors diagnosed her with what is called micro-lissencephaly also known as ‘smooth brain.’ In Sophia’s case, a genetic disorder that caused the folds in her brain to stop developing during pregnancy. “The first time we ever heard about that was when the doctor walked in and told us she had it,” Sophia’s father John Nichols said. Despite nearly around the clock care, caring for three other children, creating their own formulas for Sophia, driving to Savannah, Ga. for doctor’s visits, and doing everything they can to learn more about her condition both John and Nikki still find the time to volunteer at their local fire station.