Woman Born Without a Brain Turns 20 After Doctors Believed She Wouldn’t Live Past 4 Years Old: ‘She’s a Fighter’

OMAHA, NEBRASKA | November 9, 2025 — In a story that continues to inspire millions around the world, a Nebraska woman who was born without a brain has just celebrated her 20th birthday, defying every medical prediction and proving the power of faith, resilience, and love.

When Alexandra “Alex” Jensen was born in 2005, doctors told her parents she would likely not survive more than a few days. She was diagnosed with anencephaly, a rare and severe neural tube defect in which parts of the brain and skull do not fully develop. Most babies with the condition die shortly after birth, and those who survive often live for only a few hours or days.

But Alex’s story turned out to be extraordinary. Against every medical expectation, she not only survived — she thrived in her own remarkable way. On Saturday, November 8, surrounded by her family, caregivers, and friends, Alex celebrated her 20th birthday at her family’s home in Omaha, a milestone her parents once believed they would never see.

“It’s nothing short of a miracle,” said her mother, Jennifer Jensen, holding back tears. “When Alex was born, the doctors told us to take her home and love her for whatever time we had left. They never imagined we’d be here 20 years later, celebrating her birthday with cake, balloons, and laughter. She’s our angel on earth.”

Alex’s condition is exceptionally rare. While she was born without the majority of her brain’s hemispheres, her brainstem — the part that controls basic functions such as breathing and heartbeat — remained intact. Over the years, her family says she has developed her own way of responding to the world around her, recognizing familiar voices, reacting to music, and smiling when she hears her mother’s voice.

Her father, Michael Jensen, describes her as “the strongest person I’ve ever known.”

“She has taught us what true strength looks like,” he said. “Every day we get with her is a gift. She’s changed the way we see life, love, and faith.”

Over the past two decades, Alex has defied medical logic again and again. While she requires full-time care, she has outlived nearly every prediction made about her lifespan. Her story has been featured in medical journals, documentaries, and faith-based publications, serving as a symbol of hope for families of children born with life-limiting conditions.

Dr. Caroline Myers, a pediatric neurologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has followed Alex’s journey closely.

“Cases like Alex’s are extraordinarily rare,” she said. “From a clinical standpoint, her survival challenges everything we understand about anencephaly. But it’s a powerful reminder that medicine doesn’t always have all the answers — and that the human body, and spirit, can sometimes do the impossible.”

Alex’s 20th birthday celebration was filled with joy and gratitude. Friends and family gathered for a small backyard party decorated with pink and gold balloons, featuring her favorite music and a custom cake that read: “20 Years of Miracles.”

For the Jensen family, every year has been a blessing. They have dedicated themselves to advocating for children with severe disabilities, sharing Alex’s story to raise awareness about compassion, inclusion, and the importance of hope. Jennifer often speaks to parents facing similar diagnoses, reminding them that their child’s life — no matter how long or short — has meaning.

“She’s taught us that life doesn’t have to look a certain way to be beautiful,” Jennifer said. “People look at her and see what she’s missing, but we see everything she has — a heart full of love and a soul that continues to touch everyone she meets.”

Over the years, Alex’s story has resonated deeply online, where thousands of well-wishers have followed her journey through social media updates shared by her parents. Messages from across the country poured in over the weekend, congratulating her on her milestone birthday and celebrating the incredible journey she has taken.

“Happy Birthday, Alex,” one commenter wrote. “You remind us that miracles are real and love is the strongest force there is.”

While Alex’s future remains uncertain, as it always has, her family chooses to focus not on what may come, but on what is. “We take each day as a blessing,” Michael said. “Every morning she wakes up, smiles, and holds our hand, we know we’re witnessing something sacred.”

As the candles were blown out and the crowd sang Happy Birthday, Jennifer leaned down and kissed her daughter’s forehead.

“We were told she wouldn’t make it a week,” she whispered, smiling. “And here she is — twenty years later — still proving everyone wrong.”

For those who have followed her journey, Alex Jensen stands as a living testament to the boundless strength of the human spirit and the immeasurable power of love. She may have been born without a brain, but as her family often says, she has more heart than anyone they’ve ever known.